Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Cunningham asks about steps being taken to increase bus usage.
What steps is the Secretary of State taking to increase bus patronage? He also inquires if Shapps will support a campaign called “Bring Back the Buses” for isolated communities that have lost their services.
Yes, I will gladly back that campaign. Everyone recognises that buses could and should be doing a lot more. I recognise that we have lost services over a period of time. Buses are still the chosen form of transport for 50% of travel, so it is important that we get this right.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Rodda criticises the government for cutting bus funding and favouring road construction over public transport.
The Government have cut bus funding by 45% since 2010. With a new budget that allocates more than 27 times more spending on roads than buses, when will the Government provide real investment in public transport?
We are not just paying lip service; we are doing it. What he does not seem to understand about building roads is that buses run on them.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Hollobone notes the disparity in direct revenue support between London and other regions.
Given that just £43 million of a £250 million fund goes to local councils outside London, we will need more investment to reinstate lost bus services in rural areas. Is this correct?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is where the £5 billion national bus strategy, which we will be publishing shortly, comes in. Our aim is quite simply to get to a London standard of service throughout the country, including in rural areas and his constituency.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Onwurah requests a comparative study of bus fares in London versus her region, highlighting the unfairness.
For £1.50 in London I can get two buses anywhere across the capital for up to 30 miles, whereas in Newcastle this will not even cover three stops on West Road and costs £8 to Ashington (18 miles away). Can we have a comparative study of bus fares?
I can assure her that that is exactly the process that we will be following in developing the national bus strategy, and I would be more than happy to work with her and incorporate her ideas.
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Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
Griffith asks about promoting cleaner, greener buses including the use of hydrogen.
To get more people on the buses, we need to make them cleaner and greener. What is being done to promote the use of hydrogen?
We want buses that are cleaner and greener with 4,000 new electric or hydrogen-powered buses. We warmly welcome all such developments. My hon. Friend can be reassured that we are working closely with bus operators to develop new British buses.
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