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Rural Bus Services
11 September 2024
Lead MP
Sarah Dyke
Glastonbury and Somerton
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Simon Lightwood
Tags
Transport
Word Count: 4373
Other Contributors: 11
At a Glance
Sarah Dyke raised concerns about rural bus services in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Minister is asked to provide specific guidance on the protection of bus routes for social and environmental reasons, clarify future funding arrangements such as BSIP funds, retain the £2 fare cap, support local authorities and bus companies in switching to zero emission buses, and include rural areas in rail projects.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Rural bus service users travel an average of 47% further compared with their urban counterparts, who also receive more funding per head. Budgeted local authority expenditure in rural areas is on average £11.68 per resident, while it is £20.22 in urban areas. There has been a concerning trend of bus route closures in rural and county areas over the past decade, with one in four routes ceasing to exist since 2010-11. Rural households spend almost £800 a year more on fuel than people in urban areas due to the lack of decent public transport.
Anna Sabine
Lib Dem
Frome and East Somerset
Commended the hon. Lady for her efforts and mentioned the importance of long-term funding commitments from cash-strapped councils to support vital bus services such as the Trowbridge to Bath service.
Ashley Dalton
Lab
West Lancashire
Will the Minister confirm that rural voices will be heard in plans to empower local communities to influence and shape bus services, due to specific issues facing rural communities?
Ben Maguire
Lib Dem
North Cornwall
The Minister is asked to commit to working with the hon. Member to bring back the 503 National Express service that served Launceston and other towns in North Cornwall, which ran through to Exeter and London.
Ben Obese-Jecty
Con
Huntingdon
Noted that 8 out of 68 settlements in Huntingdon do not have a bus service, and questioned whether rural communities should be included in new routes under the proposed introduction of bus franchising.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Complimented the hon. Lady for her efforts, highlighting capacity issues and a lack of planning that left rural children without transport to school in Upper Bann this year, considering it unacceptable.
Caroline Voaden
Lib Dem
South Devon
The health impact of rural bus networks needs to be considered, particularly concerning isolation and loneliness among older people. The hon. Member discussed the need for balanced funding between rural and urban areas.
Ellie Chowns
Green
North Herefordshire
The inequality in funding between rural and urban bus services is of great concern; the hon. Member highlighted that rural areas need more support per head than urban ones due to less commercial viability.
Helen Grant
Con
Maidstone and Malling
Local bus companies in Maidstone and Malling report a significant reason for the lack of services is the lack of drivers; speeding up the process for granting provisional licences could make a real difference.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Thanked the hon. Lady for bringing this debate, highlighting issues in Strangford where students travel up to 45 minutes by bus to attend secondary schools and need additional support during exam periods.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
Praised the hon. Lady for bringing this debate, mentioning that community transport organisations in Northern Ireland like South Antrim Community Transport provide essential services where central bus connections are lacking.
Simon Opher
Lab
Stroud
Highlighted problems with cross-border rural buses and the loss of the 84/85 bus service due to a lack of agreement between local authorities, causing strain on rural populations.
Government Response
Simon Lightwood
Government Response
It is an honour to serve with you in the Chair, Dame Siobhain. I want to start by thanking the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke) for securing this debate on the important issue of bus services in rural areas. Access to reliable and affordable public transport is a lifeline for communities across England. For too long bus users have been subjected to a postcode lottery when it comes to the quality of their services, which is not just an inconvenience but a barrier to opportunity and growth. Our plan aims to end that disparity and ensure that everyone has access to dependable public transport. The Government have set out an ambitious action plan to deliver better buses, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to underserved regions. A core part of that plan was announced in the King's Speech: the passing of a buses Bill. We are introducing the Bill in this Session because we want to see change as quickly as possible. The Government will take further steps to deliver more reliable and accessible bus services, including giving local authorities more flexibility and control over bus funding so they can plan for the long term and deliver on local priorities. We also want to provide safeguards over local networks to raise standards. Local leaders need to get back control of bus services using devolved funds to make informed decisions in their areas.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.