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Unring-fenced bus grants face risk of diversion from intended services by local authorities.

Recommendation
The financial pressures on local authorities are such that the Department cannot be sure its bus grants to local areas will be spent on bus services if they are not ring-fenced. We asked the Department how it plans to ensure that the funding it allocates to local transport authorities for buses is used for that purpose. The Department acknowledged there is a risk that the money might not be used on buses.30 Measurement of performance
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 19 January 2026. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.

Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.9 yr
Report published 29 Oct 2025