Overview

• The legislation passed a key Commons stage and mandates councils to identify and protect ‘socially necessary’ routes before any alterations.
• A ban on local authorities running their own bus companies has been lifted and the franchising process simplified to reduce red tape.
• Officials have ring-fenced nearly £38m to introduce 319 new zero-emission buses across England.
• An extra £1bn will upgrade bus infrastructure, including new stops and digital timetables.
• Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon criticised the reforms as ideological overreach that could strain essential services.