Responding to the publication of "Bus Services after the Spending Review" by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, Metro Chairman Cllr James Lewis said,

"I am sure many bus passengers in West Yorkshire will recognise some of the Committee's recommendations as things Metro is already doing in West Yorkshire. We have successfully introduced innovative MetroLocal services in Kirklees, soon to be extended to Calderdale, and are developing our liaison with community transport organisations to ensure that people in rural areas still have access to jobs, health centres and leisure and shopping centres.

"Metro's Bus Network Review, due to start in September, will look at all aspects of commercial and supported bus services in the county, and we will be consulting extensively as part of that review. The first reviews will cover Bradford, Keighley and Wakefield; the consultations, and discussions with operators, aim to minimise any inconvenience and loss of accessibility as far as possible.

"I fully agree with the Committee when they say that the Government cannot "wash its hands" in the face of these challenges. Metro has lost over £400,000 of Department for Transport funding which had been specifically allocated to rural bus services, which is a huge cut to these vital services.

"This Government has reduced the funding received by West Yorkshire's Councils by hundreds of millions of pounds, which in turn means Metro has less to spend on services, including in the early morning, evening and Sundays - services which are important to get people to and from work, which benefits the economy locally and nationally.

"If the Government truly wants to see economic growth in the UK, then it needs to invest in the services that help people to get to work, not cut back funding and hope communities can muddle through."