Bus Franchising

In a statement to the House of Commons, the minister outlined the government's plan to deliver better bus services across the country. The minister acknowledged that buses are a lifeline for millions of working people, providing access to work, school, healthcare, and social connections. However, the minister lamented the decline in bus services over the past four decades, with a staggering 1.5 billion fewer journeys taken in 2019 compared to 1985, and a 300 million reduction in miles driven per year since 2010. The minister stated that this decline has had a devastating impact on the poorest groups, who rely on buses the most, and has denied many people access to work, education, and safe journeys home. The minister declared that this is unacceptable and that the government is committed to repairing the broken bus network and reforming the system to better serve the needs of local communities. To this end, the minister announced that the government has laid a statutory instrument that will open up bus franchising for all local transport authorities in England. This will give local leaders more flexibility to adopt a model that works for their area, streamlining the process and empowering them to deliver better services tailored to local needs. The minister cited the success of the Bee Network in Greater Manchester and the public control of buses in London as examples of how this model can improve reliability, increase passenger numbers, and introduce new 24/7 services. The minister also announced a public consultation to gather views on breaking down the barriers to franchising and supporting safer and more accessible bus services. This will be followed by a new bus bill later in the current parliamentary session, which will reform funding, allow for faster and cheaper rollout of franchises, and support councils that choose not to franchise but still want to deliver on local transport priorities. The minister emphasized that this is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather an acknowledgment that the best decisions are often made at the local level by those who are accountable to their communities and understand their needs. The minister concluded by stating that the government is moving fast and fixing things, placing better buses at the heart of its plan for change and empowering communities to take back control of the services on which they depend.