{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?hansardHeading=Bus+Services%3A+Concessions", "definition" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?hansardHeading=Bus+Services%3A+Concessions", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_metadata=all&hansardHeading=Bus+Services%3A+Concessions", "first" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&hansardHeading=Bus+Services%3A+Concessions", "hasPart" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?hansardHeading=Bus+Services%3A+Concessions", "isPartOf" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?hansardHeading=Bus+Services%3A+Concessions", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1723004", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1723004/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The Department for Transport published an interim report on the £2 fare cap in September 2023 setting out emerging trends in key outcomes from the first two months of the scheme. It is available on GOV.UK at <a href=\"https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fevaluation-of-the-2-bus-fare-cap%2F2-bus-fare-cap-evaluation-interim-report-february-2023.&amp;data=05%7C02%7CDfTSpecialAdvisers%40dft.gov.uk%7Ce54d94e1cefc4b10049908dcac884137%7C28b782fb41e148eabfc3ad7558ce7136%7C0%7C0%7C638574948408121988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=eJSip9TIfdvphyFrHIOLl7Va0NcG%2Feet3LJETfKhfro%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-2-bus-fare-cap/2-bus-fare-cap-evaluation-interim-report-february-2023.<\/a><\/p><p> <\/p><p>Bus patronage appears to be continuing to recover following the COVID-19 pandemic, and people making additional bus trips with the £2 bus fare cap in place are likely to be existing bus users and make a small number of additional trips.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>DfT is considering the overall value for money of the £2 fare cap as part of our ongoing evaluation, which will continue over the coming months and provide richer conclusions on its effects and people\u2019s attitudes.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4943", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Lightwood"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wakefield and Rothwell"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Lightwood"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-25T14:32:57.157Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2024 to Question 459 on Bus Services: Concessions, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of ending the Get around for £2 bus fare scheme this year on levels of (a) national and (b) regional bus use, broken down by bus operator.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4813", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Richard Holden"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Basildon and Billericay"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Richard Holden"}
      ], "uin" : "1388"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722469", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722469/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of my top priorities and I know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The government is urgently considering the most effective and affordable ways to deliver on these objectives.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4943", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Lightwood"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wakefield and Rothwell"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Lightwood"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-30T11:50:50.89Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to extend the £2 cap on bus fares after 31 December 2024.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4267", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Champion"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rotherham"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sarah Champion"}
      ], "uin" : "956"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722533", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722533/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The government is urgently considering the most effective ways to ensure public transport services are reliable and affordable. We will conclude this as quickly as possible.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4943", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Lightwood"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wakefield and Rothwell"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Lightwood"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "1041"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-25T14:27:33.743Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2024 to Question 459 on Bus Services: Concessions, whether she plans to extend the Get around for £2 bus fare scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4813", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Richard Holden"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Basildon and Billericay"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Richard Holden"}
      ], "uin" : "1040"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722076", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722076/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The £2 National Bus Fare Cap is a voluntary scheme for eligible bus operators, who are provided a bespoke funding allocation to reimburse the difference between the cap and the shadow commercial fare. This is calculated using the Department for Transport\u2019s methodology which uses each operator\u2019s historic and present data to predict ticket sales for each period of the scheme.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>It is not possible to calculate the average cost per passenger journey in each Local Transport Authority (LTA) because the reimbursement is provided directly to bus operators, who do not operate exclusively within LTA boundaries. The total government investment to cap bus fares at £2 between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2024 is around £600 million.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4943", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Lightwood"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wakefield and Rothwell"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Lightwood"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-26T13:06:17.953Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the average cost per passenger journey to the public purse of the £2 bus fare cap in each local transport authority.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5141", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Mayer"}
      ], "uin" : "721"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721744", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721744/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of my top priorities as I know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The government is urgently considering the most effective and affordable ways to deliver on these objectives.<\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4943", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Lightwood"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wakefield and Rothwell"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Lightwood"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-22T13:19:49.79Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the Get around for £2 bus fare scheme this year on bus use (a) nationally, (b) regionally and (c) by operator.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4813", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Richard Holden"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Basildon and Billericay"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Richard Holden"}
      ], "uin" : "459"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1717665", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1717665/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those who have reached state pension age, currently aged sixty-six. ENCTS costs around £1 billion annually and any changes to the minimum statutory scheme, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would need to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme\u2019s financial sustainability.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations and extend free bus travel to those not eligible for ENCTS, however, these additional concessions are not funded by central government but by local authorities from local resources, such as council tax. Since 2010/11 almost all of the travel concession authorities in England have offered some form of discretionary concession.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-05-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-05-21T09:43:55.143Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-05-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the eligibility age for a free bus pass to 60.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4839", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Hunt"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Loughborough"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jane Hunt"}
      ], "uin" : "26010"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689105", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1689105/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>No.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-26T17:00:18.017Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2024 to Question 11716 on Travel: Concessions, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in (a) the devolved Administrations and (b) the London Assembly on concessionary bus travel.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Rosindell"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romford"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Rosindell"}
      ], "uin" : "13916"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667876", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667876/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The Department for Transport is running a Monitoring and Evaluation exercise to review the £2 bus fare cap scheme so that we will be in position to properly assess the impact it has had on bus fares and patronage. The Department has now published two interim reports on GOV.UK, found here: <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-2-bus-fare-cap\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-2-bus-fare-cap<\/a>, and will publish the final report evaluating the impact of the £2 fare cap by the end of Spring 2024.<\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p>The Department for Transport's local bus fare statistics show that between June 22 and June 23, bus fares have dropped by 7.4% in England, outside London, and by 10.8% in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England. In Scotland, Wales and London, where the buses are devolved, fares increased by 10.3%, 6.3% and 6.0%, respectively.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-15T16:53:28.513Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the £2 bus fare cap on passenger numbers in rural areas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Morgan"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Shropshire"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Helen Morgan"}
      ], "uin" : "633"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667879", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667879/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The Government is investing nearly £600 million to deliver a £2 fare cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers save on their regular travel costs, which the Prime Minister recently announced would be extended until the end of 2024.<\/p><p><br> The Department for Transport has worked to ensure the fare cap is designed to be as equitable as possible in terms of its support for passengers across England, and worked closely with bus operators in designing and implementing the scheme to try and encourage their participation. This includes reducing the administrative burden on operators where possible. Ultimately, however, participation in the scheme from operators is voluntary and this is therefore a decision for them to take.<\/p><p>The Department for Transport's local bus fare statistics show that between June 22 and June 23, bus fares have dropped by 7.4% in England, outside London, and by 10.8% in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England. In Scotland, Wales and London, where the buses are devolved, fares increased by 10.3%, 6.3% and 6.0%, respectively<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-15T16:13:06.927Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to encourage more bus operators to participate in the £2 bus fare cap.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Morgan"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Shropshire"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Helen Morgan"}
      ], "uin" : "635"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667880", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667880/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The Government recognises the importance of transport provision in rural areas and is committed to finding solutions which ensure that local communities in these areas have viable and improved transport services.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Government is supporting LTAs and bus operators with the provision of local bus services. Over £1 billion was allocated to 34 Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) in the first phase of funding for LTAs to deliver their BSIPs. All other LTAs received funding from the £160m BSIP+ fund announced in May 2023. On 4 October Government announced new funding of over £1bn from redirected HS2 funding to levelling up bus services across the North and Midlands, with £150m allocated for 2024/25. This funding has been provided to both urban and rural areas (e.g. Shropshire).<\/p><p>We have also announced that a new uplift of 60% will be added to Community Transport Operators\u2019 (CTOs) Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) claims until 31 March 2025. On top of this, we have extended the £2 fare cap, which includes Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) funded through the Rural Mobility Fund (RMF), until the end of 2024, meaning we are investing nearly £600 million in total to cap bus fares.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>LTAs in receipt of BSIP and/or BSIP+ funding may use the funding to target it on the actions that they \u2013 and local operators through their Enhanced Partnership (where relevant) \u2013 believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long term patronage, revenues and thus maintaining service levels, whilst maintaining essential social and economic connectivity for local communities.<\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"}
        }
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        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-15T16:11:55.207Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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      , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"}
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      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department made an assessment of the impact of the rurality of each council area on the level of funding provided for each bus service improvement plan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Morgan"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Shropshire"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Helen Morgan"}
      ], "uin" : "636"}
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