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Buses: Procurement

Asked by Mr Gregory CampbellDemocratic Unionist PartyDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 7 September 2026UIN 26502

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many buses does she expect to be built in the UK under the 10-year bus procurement process.

Answered by Department for Transport

The Department does not hold the information requested.

At the final meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel in March 2026, Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) agreed a set of commitments. These included applying a minimum 10% social value weighting in all future bus procurement exercises. This means that, when procuring buses, MCAs will consider the positive impact that a manufacturer has on society, the environment, and local communities as part of their decision-making process.

It was also agreed that the 10-year zero-emission bus order pipeline will be reviewed and updated regularly to provide a forward view of expected demand, helping UK bus manufacturers to plan effectively and compete for future orders.

We will continue to engage with and work alongside the industry to support a competitive UK bus manufacturing sector.

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