Buses: Driving
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing skills bootcamps for the public service vehicles sector that mirror those available to HGV drivers.
Answered by Keir Mather
The Government recognises that the bus and coach sector has had issues recruiting and retaining drivers in recent years and is considering a number of measures to support driver recruitment.
We are taking time to fully assess the challenges around driver recruitment and identify potential mitigations, including the role skills bootcamps could play. Options are still under consideration, and next steps have not yet been finalised.
The Government is also committed to improving bus services more widely, and is providing significant investment in this regard. We have committed over £3 billion over the next three years from 2026/27 to 2028/29, including around £240 million a year for bus operators, and nearly £700 million a year for local authorities. Local authorities can use this funding however they wish to improve bus services for passengers, which could include measures locally to support driver recruitment. It is up to local authorities to decide how best to prioritise funding to achieve positive outcomes for passengers.
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