Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Bus Sector Support

Thursday 11 September 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister convened an extraordinary meeting of the UK bus manufacturing expert panel on 28 July to accelerate priorities.
  • Jim Shannon noted the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill has passed to enhance bus frequency and address social exclusion.
  • Minister offered to share successful initiatives with Northern Ireland through the interministerial group.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Euan Stainbank Lab Falkirk
Transport
Context

A consultation on the potential loss of 400 jobs at Alexander Dennis, a local bus manufacturer in Falkirk. The SNP's ScotZEB2 scheme initially sent over three times as many buses to China compared to Scotland’s sole manufacturer. Although £40 million has been made available by Transport Scotland, it must be used to correct this issue.

Question

What steps is the Government taking to support the bus sector? The consultation on 400 jobs at Alexander Dennis closes tomorrow. It has been a time of deep anxiety for the local workers. Despite £40 million now available from Transport Scotland, it must be spent correcting the SNP industrial failure in ScotZEB2. What engagement have Ministers had with the Scottish Government regarding recently consulted-on procurement reforms and their potential benefits to the Scottish bus manufacturing and operation sectors?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)

I convened an extraordinary meeting of the UK bus manufacturing expert panel on 28 July, attended by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Transport, metro mayors and mayoral combined authorities, to accelerate the panel’s key priorities of establishing a bus order pipeline and strengthening local value within public sector procurement. I will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government on this issue.

Answered
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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Transport Northern Ireland
Context

The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill has passed and aims to improve bus frequency and social inclusion through better bus services in England.

Question

Thanking the Minister for his answers on bus sector support, Jim Shannon mentions that the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill has passed, aiming to enhance bus frequency and address social exclusion issues. He asks if the Government will share their successful initiatives with Northern Ireland's relevant Minister to benefit similar areas there.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)

I will continue to have active engagement through the interministerial group and will be delighted to share the excellent work this Government are doing to re-empower local areas and their bus services.

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