54. Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Minister of Education if she is aware that, as the result of the lack of discrimination and over-rigidity of the reductions in the school transport service made by the Kent Education Committee, children of under eight years of age in the Tyler Hill district of Canterbury and in outlying areas of Herne Bay and Whitstable, are being compelled to walk more than three miles to school, often along narrow and dangerous roads; and if she will instruct the committee to make urgent inquiry into this matter, at the same time ascertaining how many parents would be prepared to contribute towards the cost of transport.
§ Miss HorsbrughI have written to my hon. Friend about the cases he has in mind. I am not aware that any of the children concerned have been asked to38W walk as much as three miles, and in normal circumstances I cannot regard it as justifiable at the present time that free transport should be provided for children living nearer to school than the distances prescribed by the Education Act, 1944, two miles for children under eight and three miles for older children.
§ 58. Mr. Marloweasked the Minister of Education whether her attention has been drawn to the petition of the Mile Oak Parents Association, submitted to the East Sussex Education Committee, relative to the school omnibus service and the particular problem of this locality; and whether she will take steps to secure a restoration of the omnibus services to St. Nicolas and Benfield Schools, Ports-lade.
§ Miss HorsbrughI have seen the petition but see no grounds for questioning the authority's action.