National bus strategy: one year on

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 Mar 2022 Closed: 22 Jun 2023 Parliament page
A Transport Select Committee inquiry to scrutinise the implementation of the Government’s national bus strategy. as set out in Bus Back Better: national bus strategy for England published in March 2021 and to examine the challenges faced by the sector as it recovers from the pandemic. Read the call for … Read more
8 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
2 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
22 Jun
2023
Report published
30 Mar
2023
Report published
12 Oct
2022
Correspondence
7 Sep
2022
Correspondence
29 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
29 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
8 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
8 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
18 May
2022
Oral evidence
18 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
29 Jun 2022
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Stephen Fidler · Department for Transport The Baroness Vere of Norbiton · Department for Transport
8 Jun 2022
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Alistair Hands · Arriva Group Martin Dean · Go-Ahead Group Mr Peter Freedman · Switch Mobility Paul Turner · Transdev Blazefield Ltd Tanya Sinclair · Chargepoint
18 May 2022
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Councillor David Renard · Local Government Association Councillor Steven Broadbent · Buckinghamshire Council Councillor Tony Page · Reading Borough Council Linda McCord · Transport Focus Peter Bond · Transport for the West Midlands Peter Hardy · Integrated Transport Planning
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Implementation of the National Bus Strategy HC 161 30 Mar 2023 18 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Implementation of …
We welcome the funding for Bus Service Improvement Plans made available as part of the...
We welcome the funding for Bus Service Improvement Plans made available as part of the Government’s National Bus Strategy. It will do much good. Yet just over £1 billion is simply not enough money to produce real improvements in bus … Read more
Government Response
The government only partially accepts the recommendation, deferring to a future announcement on the end of sales date for non-zero emission buses and the publication of several strategies.
Department for Transport
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5 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Implementation of …
The bidding process for BSIP funding has appeared slightly chaotic at times, with periods of...
The bidding process for BSIP funding has appeared slightly chaotic at times, with periods of delay, confusion about the terms of trade and concerns about Departmental capacity. While we understand the short-term impulse to prioritise communication with winning bidders, it … Read more
Government Response
The Government acknowledged the importance of assisting unsuccessful bidders, and states it is working closely with LTAs and bus operators, with dedicated relationship managers appointed, to monitor and advise on BSIP outcomes through EPs, and help support governance processes.
Department for Transport
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6 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Implementation of …
The Government should commission and publish an independent analysis of the first tranche of Bus...
The Government should commission and publish an independent analysis of the first tranche of Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. It should then consult on the structure and aims of a further disbursement of ‘transformation’ funding. Underpinning this should be a … Read more
Government Response
The government has commissioned the Bus Transformation evaluation to understand which interventions improve bus services and assess the National Bus Strategy, with findings due in March 2025, and outlines existing funding commitments, but doesn't directly address consulting on further funding disbursement.
Department for Transport
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7 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Implementation of …
Bringing more coherence and collaboration between local transport authorities and bus operators to local bus...
Bringing more coherence and collaboration between local transport authorities and bus operators to local bus services is undoubtedly a good idea. But Enhanced Partnerships are a largely untested way to do this. The Government has made a big bet on … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of monitoring Enhanced Partnerships (EPs) and is working closely with LTAs and bus operators, highlighting the responsibilities and guidance provided to LTAs. The government also recognizes that EPs are new and untested mechanism and for that reason, sufficient time must be allowed for these to be fully embedded.
Department for Transport
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16 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Implementation of …
For too many years the story of buses in England outside London has been one...
For too many years the story of buses in England outside London has been one of managed decline. The publication of the National Bus Strategy represented an opportunity to change that. It was ambitious, full of good ideas and supported … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the committee's view that the National Bus Strategy was ambitious and supported by funding, while recognizing the transformation promised has yet to be fully achieved and requiring continued focus.
Department for Transport
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17 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Implementation of …
The Government should set out clearly how it plans to evaluate the success of the...
The Government should set out clearly how it plans to evaluate the success of the National Bus Strategy across its various strands. It should also set out an indicative timescale for the scoping, consultation, and publication of future iterations of … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation and describes multiple monitoring and evaluation projects currently being delivered for activities which sit under the National Bus Strategy, and will share learnings and interim findings where possible, with the Bus Transformation evaluation expected to be published in 2025.
Department for Transport
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Government Response AI assessment · 18 of 8 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 8
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 1
Total 8 recs + 10 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
12 Oct 2022 Correspondence from Minister of State for Roads, Buses and Places, Department for Transport, dated 3 September 2022relating to the £2 bus fare cap, dated
Parliament page
7 Sep 2022 Correspondence from the Minister for Roads, Buses and Places, Department for Transport, relating to additional funding for buses, dated 19 August 2022
Parliament page