Working with the West of England Combined Authority

A very good meeting yesterday with West of England Combined Authority Mayor Dan Norris. We discussed the ongoing challenges with the bus services in the area, primarily driven by a lack of bus drivers. I will continue to work with the WECA Mayor, Secretary of State for Transport, other ministers and the bus companies to address these issues. I shall also be holding a careers and skills fair in the near future which I shall be inviting the bus companies to, in order to help ease these pressures.

We also discussed the plans for Metro West rail and the importance of providing more affordable housing for our communities and how national and local government can work together to deliver for our area.