He agreed with the importance of buses in England, noting that millions rely on them and they are the most used form of public transport. He highlighted the decline in bus journeys since deregulation in 1985, mentioning a decrease of 300 million miles driven by buses annually since 2010 and thousands of services being cut across the country. Esterson also pointed out that some parts of Stoke-on-Trent have seen their bus miles halve in the last decade. He called for bold reform to address the creaking network and criticised the current system's lack of accountability for operators. Asked about the cuts in 2010 and the current state of the economy.

Bob Seely highlighted the Isle of Wight's successful bus routes, noting that there are eight services from Newport per working day. He praised the electric bus initiative and the £2 fare scheme, which has attracted thousands more people to use the bus network each month.

Bus services are crucial for reducing road congestion and supporting deprived communities. Jack supports the fare cap initiative proposed by Jonathan Gullis, highlighting the challenges faced by Strathmore College due to the 9.30 am start time. He also discussed the decline of bus services in non-metropolitan areas, advocating for his private Member's Bill to enhance high streets and improve accessibility through mandatory improvement plans.

From 2022 to 2023, bus miles in County Durham dropped by 18%, with significant route reductions and frequency cuts affecting deprived communities. The removal of the X21 service has generated extensive constituent casework due to its importance for job connections in Newton Aycliffe. Low car ownership and limited connectivity severely restrict residents' ability to access employment and educational opportunities. Paul Howell asked for further details on how objectives will be achieved, expressing interest in consistency with Labour's approach regarding franchising.

The MP highlighted significant issues with bus services in rural areas, noting that nearly a quarter of routes outside London have been cut over the past decade. He cited specific examples such as delays and route cancellations impacting constituents' daily lives. The MP also mentioned challenges posed by concessionary fares for older people, making it difficult for bus companies to make profits.