Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Rural Bus Services

11 September 2024 · 11 other contributors · 4,373 words

Opened by Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton

Responding minister: Simon Lightwood

TransportAgriculture & Rural Affairs

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Sarah Dyke raised concerns about rural bus services in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Rural bus service users travel an average of 47% further compared to urban counterparts.
  • Budgeted local authority expenditure in rural areas is 11.68 per resident, while in urban areas it is 20.22 per resident.
  • One in four bus routes in rural and county areas have closed since 2010-11.

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.

Opened the debate

Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton

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.

Other contributors (11)
  • 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

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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