Overview

The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill aims to improve the performance, accessibility, and quality of bus services in Great Britain. It focuses on enhancing franchising schemes, improving accessibility for disabled passengers, introducing new safety measures, and promoting the use of zero-emission vehicles.

Description

This bill makes numerous amendments to existing transport legislation, primarily the Transport Act 2000. Key changes include:

Franchising Schemes:

• Extending franchising schemes to allow for non-contiguous areas and flexible service specifications.
• Introducing clearer criteria for granting service permits, considering both passenger benefits and economic impacts.
• Streamlining the procedure for varying franchising schemes, including adding a new Schedule 9A detailing the process.
• Allowing direct award of contracts to incumbent operators under specific circumstances.

Enhanced Partnership Plans and Schemes:

• Introducing the concept of "socially necessary local services," requiring authorities to identify and protect essential routes.
• Strengthening requirements for passenger benefit from cost reductions in service operation.
• Implementing measures to ensure accessibility for disabled passengers.
• Mandating the Secretary of State to assess the impacts of the £2 bus fare cap removal and employer National Insurance contributions on socially necessary services.

Local Government Functions:

• Requiring local transport authorities to publish bus network accessibility plans.
• Removing restrictions on the formation of local government bus companies, while introducing some director disqualification rules.
• Enabling local authorities to provide grants to bus operators.

Safety and Accessibility:

• Introducing a duty to provide information about assaults on buses.
• Giving the Secretary of State powers to issue guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus stops and related facilities, including floating bus stops.
• Introducing a safeguarding duty for school bus drivers, requiring criminal record checks.

Other provisions:

• Mandating training for bus staff on crime, anti-social behaviour, and disability awareness.
• Promoting the use of zero-emission vehicles for local services in England by 2030.
• Requiring a review of bus services in English villages.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify direct government spending figures. However, it could lead to increased government spending through grants to bus operators or through supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles. Conversely, changes to franchising schemes and service provision may lead to some cost savings for local authorities.

Groups Affected

• Bus operators: Potentially affected by franchising schemes, enhanced partnership plans, new regulations, grant schemes, and requirements for zero-emission vehicles, training, and data sharing.
• Local transport authorities: Responsible for implementing many aspects of the bill, including accessibility plans, franchising schemes, and potentially increased or reduced financial responsibilities.
• Passengers: Will benefit from improved accessibility, potentially better service quality, and possibly lower fares (although the impact of the £2 fare cap removal needs assessment).
• People with disabilities: Will experience improved accessibility due to new requirements for network accessibility plans and enhanced partnership schemes.
• Bus staff: Will be subject to mandatory training on crime prevention, anti-social behaviour and disability awareness.
• School children: Benefit from enhanced safeguarding measures for school bus drivers.

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