Member

Bus franchising can be the answer, but only if there is adequate funding. That was my concern in tabling Amendment 4. I appreciate that the Government have allocated nearly £1 billion to support bus services, but only until 2026. On the provision of subsidised bus routes, as we have heard throughout this afternoon’s debate, if you want to franchise bus services, you have to have consistency of operators, policies and funding. I would like to hear from the Minister, who has been very careful and clear with his answers to noble Lords’ amendments so far, whether there will be consistent and increasing subsidies for franchised services across England, so that there is confidence for bus users that services will improve and continue to exist.