Bus Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the consultation requirements for passengers under the Bus Services Act 2025; and whether she plans to introduce further measures to help ensure bus users are consulted before significant changes are made to local bus services.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
The Bus Services Act 2025 places passengers at the heart of local bus services by strengthening requirements on local authorities and operators to consider the needs of the communities they serve.
The Act introduces safeguards that ensure passengers are properly considered before significant changes are made. This includes the socially necessary local services measure which means that local transport authorities (LTAs) and bus operators are now required to identify those services which are considered as being socially necessary for their community. Should such a service then face potential withdrawal or substantial alteration, the parties must work together to explore all available options before any significant changes are made. The Government is clear that passenger views are vital in implementing this measure, and LTAs should take care to ensure there is a balanced representation of passenger voices.
The Department's guidance to local transport authorities on establishing Enhanced Partnerships makes clear that stakeholders, including passenger groups, should be consulted on the contents of any such scheme. Guidance on setting up a franchising scheme requires local transport authorities to consult on the proposals, including with passenger groups. These measures ensure that passenger views are taken into account as part of considerations on delivering better local bus services.
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