§ 20. Mr. Anthony Fellasked the Minister of Education how many taxis are employed for the purpose of taking children to school in England and Wales; how many children of nine years and over are transported to school by taxi; what is the average distance of transportation; and how many cases there are of one or two children only, of nine years and over, being transported by one taxi.
§ Miss HorsbrughI regret that the information is not available.
§ Mr. FellCan my right hon. Friend tell me why this information is not available to her, in view of the fact that I have already had it, so far as my own area in Norfolk is concerned, from the Norfolk education authority, on request from me, in a week? This Question has been on the Order Paper for over a month.
§ Miss HorsbrughIt is not available because I did not inquire from the 146 local authorities who are responsible for dealing with transport. They know the statutory regulations. In Circular 242 I have asked for economies to be made, where possible, in transport, and when I see the estimates of the authorities in April I hope to find that economies have been made.