Annex A – Useful resources

Establishing and operating a services – Relevant resources

Public Finance Manual

The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) is issued by the Scottish Ministers to provide guidance on the proper handling and reporting of public funds.

Subsidy Control

It is recommended that LTAs consider the current subsidy control rules early in their policy development. The UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has issued guidance on subsidy control rules for public authorities.

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Guidance for bus services

In May 2023, the CMA amended its guidance on “Bus Enhanced Partnerships: Advice for Local Transport Authorities”.

In 2016, the CMA also produced guidance on public transport ticketing schemes to help operators, local authorities, and scheme administrators to assess whether their multi-operator schemes fall within the scope of the block exemption. The above advice has been written to be relevant to LTAs considering measures which the CMA considers likely under the respective frameworks in England, Scotland, and Wales.