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Written question asked by Jane Hunt (Conservative) on Wednesday, 8 November 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 November 2023. It was answered by Guy Opperman (Conservative) on Friday, 17 November 2023 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Bus Services: Midlands and the North of England

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the policy paper entitled Network North, published on 4 October 2023, whether the £150 million funding for improving bus services in (a) northern England and (b) the midlands (i) is ringfenced and (ii) can be used by local authorities to fund bus routes which were commercially viable before the covid-19 pandemic but are no longer.

Answer

The new £1 billion Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding for buses in the North and the Midlands, announced on 4 October, will continue and expand the improvements started by the £1.2 billion for BSIPs announced in 2022 and 2023. The first downpayment of £150 million has been indicatively allocated for 2024-25.

The new funding can be used in the same way as existing BSIP funding. LTAs may use the funding to deliver the interventions that they and local operators, where they have an Enhanced Partnership, expect will deliver the best outcomes for passengers. Further details on the terms of funding will follow in due course.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
954
Session
2023-24
Related items
Network North: Transforming British Transport
Wednesday, 4 October 2023
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects
Bus services Midlands North of England
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk