Written question WQ87479
- Asked by
- Rhys ab OwenIndependent
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What discussions has the Welsh Government had with Cardiff Council and other partners about the impact of cuts in bus services on semi-rural villages in the north of the capital?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change
Officials regularly meet with industry bodies and local authorities to discuss the funding settlement available to support the bus industry in the next financial year.
Welsh Government has provided emergency funding to the bus industry since the beginning of the pandemic to maintain the operation of vital bus services across communities in Wales as patronage continues to recover against the backdrop of increased costs. At the end of June last year a further £48m support package was put in place for the bus industry, totalling over £150m of funding since the beginning of the pandemic.
On 10 February we announced an extension of the Bus Emergency Scheme for a transitional period which will give the industry the short-term stability it needs.
We are proposing a new model for bus services in Wales, which will allow us to work with local authorities to design the bus networks their communities need and put contracts in place to deliver them. We will continue to work closely with our key stakeholders including operators and local authorities to put in place our plans for franchising.