Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

National Bus Strategy

Thursday 17 September 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government aim to publish a national bus strategy by the end of the year.
  • The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive received a grant of 1.127 million.
  • The Government are investing in building 4,000 buses as part of the national bus strategy.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Transport
Context

The MP notes the challenges faced by bus services due to the pandemic and calls for long-term investment from all tiers of government.

Question

When he plans to publish the national bus strategy. The hon Gentleman is concerned about the impact of COVID on the bus network and requests a commitment to long-term investment from Government for an affordable, sustainable, and accessible service in South Yorkshire.

Answer from Grant Shapps

The Government aim to publish a national bus strategy by the end of the year. The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority has been allocated £703,614 and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive received a grant of £1.127 million.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline for publishing the strategy was not provided in detail, and the MP's request for more investment and commitment to the sustainable service was only partially addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Transport
Context

The MP highlights the need for a sustainable and affordable bus service in South Yorkshire post-pandemic and seeks Government support.

Question

Covid is creating huge challenges for our bus network, and if we are serious about improving services after the pandemic, we need a commitment to long-term investment from all tiers of government. In South Yorkshire, we have produced an improvement plan for our buses, but we need support. So I ask the Secretary of State: when will we see more investment from Government for the sustainable, affordable and accessible bus service that we all want?

Answer from Grant Shapps

I think that the hon. Gentleman is referring to his bus review report, which I have read. It is very impressive. We share the ambition to do much of what he has just said. The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive has received a £1.127 million grant, as he will know, and the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority has been allocated £703,614.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific commitment to long-term investment was not provided in detail, and the MP's request for a more comprehensive strategy was only partially addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Gavin Newlands SNP
Transport Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The MP raises concerns about the challenges faced by bus manufacturing companies due to the pandemic and calls for immediate government support.

Question

Bus manufacturing is a key industry and companies such as Alexander Dennis, despite being world leading, face huge challenges. The Scottish Government recently announced millions of pounds of funding for ultra low emission vehicles, which is vital not just to the bus industry but to communities and businesses across the country. Will the Secretary of State please accept that our bus industry is teetering on the brink and needs a green bus fund rolled out now, not after Alexander Dennis and other companies like it are gone?

Answer from Grant Shapps

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the need not only to build buses but to turn them into green ones. That is why the extraordinary investment we are making—sufficient to build 4,000 buses—will come forward as part of the national bus strategy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline for rolling out a green bus fund was not provided, and the MP's request for immediate action was only partially addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email