North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Transport over investment in bus services in Wales emphasising the many economic benefits it can deliver.
Speaking in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood asked the Cabinet Secretary, Ken Skates MS, how the Welsh Government is investing in bus services.
He also asked how he plans to support the industry to navigate the additional funding challenges created by the additional cost to National Insurance, following the UK Government Budget.
He said:
“Responding to my colleague, the Shadow Transport Minister Natasha Asghar, regarding bus services yesterday, the First Minister stated that the Finance Minister must operate in line with her priorities, and that the Welsh Government is ‘working with Transport for Wales and local authorities to plan and implement bus networks’.
“Independent research compiled by the Confederation of Passenger Transport, which found that every £1 of additional investment and improving bus services would generate £4.55 of further economic benefits, has already been referred to.
“Given the high cost of bus franchising evidenced in Manchester, which included a Council Tax levy, how, therefore, do you plan to maximise these benefits, what specific work are you doing with Local Authorities in North Wales and elsewhere to identify opportunities for bus priority schemes and to provide capital investment to deliver them, and how do you plan to support the industry to navigate the additional funding challenges created by the additional costs to National Insurance following the UK Government Budget, estimated at £800 to £1,000 for each employee?”
In his response, the Cabinet Secretary referred to the Bus Bill which he said is “providing us with a vehicle to ensure that we have a national integrated public transport system that responds to people’s needs.”
He added:
“We will be working with the sector, not just during franchising, but between now and the point at which franchising will begin, to capture as much innovation, ideas and creativity to solve the problems of today, but also to embrace the opportunities of tomorrow.”