Public Transport

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport – in the Senedd at 2:14 pm on 22 January 2020.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 2:14, 22 January 2020

Can I thank Leanne Wood for her question? I do share her concerns over a lack of opportunity for many people in many remote areas to be able to access work and services, because of the lack of available bus services or because they're too expensive for people to use. It's true to say that the buses Bill will make a significant difference in terms of allowing local authorities greater power to be able to intervene and, indeed, to run services themselves. It will ensure that the primary motive for running bus services in Wales moves from driving profit to meeting passenger expectations. I'm confident that the Bill will go a significant way to improving local bus services in Wales. In addition, as I said in response to Dai Rees, it's absolutely vital that we plan services on a regional basis more so that we can get people from Rhondda Fach to Cardiff quicker and with more reliable services, and also, that we ensure that the future subsidy regime amounts to additionality and not replacement funding.