In Bath and indeed across the country, buses are a widely recognised as a vital aspect of society. It enables people to get to work, to school, to the doctor's or to hospital, and can drastically improve quality of life; BANES Council recognises that buses also play a key role in reducing congestions. Buses are undoubtedly popular and passenger numbers have grown: 87 million more bus journeys were taken in England during the 12 months to September 2014 than the previous year. This growth is not just limited to London but is also a trend outside the capital. I welcome the news that overall satisfaction is up too, with almost 9 out of 10 customers satisfied.
Government support of, and continued investment in local bus services is essential. That is why the Department for Transport has allocated more than £300 million for major bus projects, as well as spending £70 million through the Better Bus Areas programme. This is on top of the £250 million Bus Service Operator's Grant, and almost £1 billion Ministers allocated to maintain the national concessionary bus pass. Many bus schemes have also benefited from the £600 million local sustainable transport fund.
Under the Coalition, Ministers also took wider steps to improve the industry, including reforming bus subsidy to make it better targeted. The proposals in the Buses Bill will include opportunities right across the country for more local control of buses, including through franchising. This Bill will be published in the coming year, and I will follow its progress with interest.