Bus Services

Kerry McCarthy
12. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to give local authorities a greater role in planning bus services.

Gillian Merron
The draft Local Transport Bill proposes changes to enable local authorities to secure better local bus services. It sets out measures to promote more effective partnership working between local authorities and bus operators and makes the implementation of quality contracts schemes a realistic option in areas where it is in the public interest for local authorities to take greater control of bus services.

Andrew Gwynne 
15. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to improve the quality of bus services.

Gillian Merron
Last month the Government published a draft Local Transport Bill for consultation. This includes proposals to provide the necessary powers for local authorities to improve bus services as set out in "Putting Passengers First".