§ 32. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Education what discussions she has had with the Essex Education Committee on her proposal to reduce the provision of school transport; how many children in the county of Essex, who had previously been taken to and from school by omnibus, will now have to walk; and if she is aware of the dangerous character of the roads in many outlying rural areas, such as the road between Asheldham and Southminster, to which her attention has been drawn especially.
§ Miss HorsbrughI informed a deputation from the authority that I could not accept their proposal to restore the cuts in the transport of senior pupils which their predecessors had put into operation. About 6,000 pupils are affected. I am aware that a number of roads in the county are considered to be dangerous, and I am willing that transport should be provided over less than the statutory walking distance where there is special justification. The authority do not, however, regard the Asheldham to Southminster road as especially dangerous.
§ Mr. DribergWhile appreciating the slight concession in the last part of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Lady to look at the one-inch Ordnance Survey 377 map of this area, when she will see the extraordinarily large number of dangerous right-angle bends that there are on this quite short stretch of road?
§ Miss HorsbrughThat is entirely for the local authority. It has been made quite clear that if a local authority can say that an area is particularly dangerous, then they can, as I have said, make an exception.