Janet's contribution:
Community transport provisions, following on from Oscar, are an important aspect of connecting rural Wales, providing a vital role in the lives of thousands of people across Wales, providing a vital lifeline to many vulnerable people who, possibly, couldn't leave their home, face social isolation, or even get involved in their communities without it.
In Wales, 2 million journeys are made every year by passengers, assisting 142,000 individuals. However, according to the Campaign for Better Transport, approximately 12 per cent has been cut from the budget for supporting bus services within Wales, with 25 of these services now withdrawn. And guess what and where these are? In our rural communities. The Welsh Government must work more with local councils to protect these services from budget cuts and to work with transport providers to increase the availability of such transport. This will go a long way in helping vulnerable people to access the services they require and will help to provide a well-connected rural Wales.