The Transport Select Committee report ‘Bus Services after the Spending Review’ published in August 2011 sets out important insights into the emerging impact of the collective cuts in funding affecting bus services. In summary, these cuts comprise of:

 • a 28% reduction in local authority revenue expenditure from 2011-12;
 • changes to the concessionary travel reimbursement formula from 2011-12;
 • and a 20% reduction in Bus Service Operating Grant from 2012-13.

The review has clearly highlighted the challenges that these cuts have placed on services across the UK, and in particular the disproportionate and different effects on bus service provision and fares across the Country.  Local authorities have reduced or withdrawn their subsidised services, with the greatest impact being on rural areas and on evening and Sunday services.  The report highlights clear concern from bus users about the scale of reduction in services, and the way in which cutbacks have been administered in some locations (without proper local consultation), and demonstrates that those most affected are in many cases the most vulnerable people in society, including the elderly.

The report sets out a number of important areas where further guidance and evidence is necessary, namely:

 • To better understand the decision making process leading to reductions in tendered bus services,   and the availability of alternative transport (e.g. community transport) in the areas where   services have been reduced.
 • To identify best practice where local authorities have been innovative in delivering a wider mix of   transport options, and for the LGA and Passenger Focus to disseminate this best practice to other   local authorities.
 • To gain a better understanding of the impact of budget reductions on commercial bus services across   England.
 • To develop a ‘consultation toolkit’ to provide best practice on how to administer budget reductions   whilst taking due regard of the needs and views of local communities.
 • To legislate the use of the concessionary pass on a wider range of community transport services in   order to facilitate growth of this sector.
 • To identify ways in which stronger and more effective partnerships can be created between different   types of service (for example, public buses, community transport, education, social care and health   services), and for the Government to seek ways to overcome the barriers and disseminate best   practice.
 • To protect the nationwide concessionary travel scheme (which is well regarded by passengers), and    to commission further research into the benefits and usage of the scheme.

The full report can be found at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmtran/750/750.pdf
 
The report does not consider the broader issue of the regulation of the bus industry, which was subject to a separate investigation by the Competition Commission, and which published it’s own findings in May.http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2010/localbus/pdf/local_uses_provisional_findings_report.pdf