Motion NDM8229 Siân Gwenllian

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that the Government's written evidence to Senedd scrutiny committees on allocations within each main expenditure group specified that the £28 million that constituted the bus emergency scheme in 2022-23 would be matched in 2023-24, but that bus operators were then informed that there was no guarantee of any funding from 1 April 2023 for the bus emergency scheme.

2. Notes that the 3-month extension to the bus emergency scheme offers little certainty to bus operators to maintain key services and routes in their area in the long-term.

3. Expresses concern that failing to extend bus emergency scheme funding would result in mass cancellations of services, leaving communities across Wales—primarily rural communities—isolated.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to extend bus emergency scheme funding for at least 18 months to provide longer-term financial security to bus operators across Wales. 

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward longer-term secure funding options to maintain bus services, as opposed to emergency funding schemes.