Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Bus Services

Thursday 20 November 2025 · 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 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • David Pinto-Duschinsky asked about bus services in Hendon, highlighting their importance for elderly and disabled residents, and received agreement from the minister that everyone should have access to high-quality bus services.
  • Peter Prinsley raised concerns about rural bus provision in Suffolk, noting issues with infrequency and oversized buses, to which the minister agreed and noted that local leaders have tools to deliver reliable bus services.
  • Sam Rushworth welcomed new bus powers and funding but criticized a local authority for plans to cancel bus routes, and the minister urged the council to use the provided bus grant to support local services.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Pinto-Duschinsky Lab Hendon
Transport
Context

In Hendon constituency, constituents face challenges accessing essential public transport.

Question

In constituencies like Hendon, bus services are not a luxury—they are a lifeline for the community, in particular the elderly and disabled people, yet there is more to be done to ensure that all residents are within easy reach of a bus stop. Does my hon. Friend agree that frequent, well-placed bus stops are essential to ensuring that local bus services are truly inclusive and accessible?

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

I agree with my hon. Friend. We are clear that everyone should have access to high-quality, accessible bus services. Responsibility for services in London sits with the mayor, and 96% of Londoners live within 400 metres of a bus stop. To expand the progress made under London’s Labour mayor, we will be developing a new national strategy of stopping place guidance to support inclusive bus stop provision throughout England.

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Q2 Peter Prinsley Lab Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Constituents in rural areas such as Suffolk are concerned about the state of local bus provision, highlighting infrequency and oversized vehicles.

Question

At a lively church hall meeting in Barningham, which is a quintessential Suffolk village, a number of my constituents raised concerns about the state of rural bus provision. They highlighted not only the infrequency of the services, but the fact that the buses are larger than demand requires; many seats are unused. Does the Minister agree that a more flexible approach, including the use of smaller, more frequent buses, potentially powered by electric motors, would be preferable in rural areas?

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

I agree with my hon. Friend that everyone should have access to reliable and frequent bus services. While it is for operators to manage their fleets, our ambitious bus reforms are giving local leaders the tools to deliver buses on which communities can rely, including by using flexible service models.

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Q3 Sam Rushworth Lab Bishop Auckland
Transport
Context

A local authority is planning to cancel certain bus routes and increase concessionary fares, impacting the community negatively.

Question

I welcome the new powers relating to buses, and the new funding for them that the Government are giving, but the problem is that what this Labour Government are giving, our Reform local authority is taking. It has announced plans to cancel the 35A out of Coundon, and the 104, which connects Canney Hill with Binchester and Newfield, and to double concessionary fares before 9.30 am. Will the Minister join me in condemning that Reform council plan, and in calling on our county council to build up our bus services, not knock them down?

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

I will indeed join my hon. Friend in condemning that. There is no representation here from that party today, but I urge the council to use the bus grant that we have given it to support local bus services.

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