HC Deb 27 May 1954 vol 528 cc589-90
16. Mr. Doughty

asked the Minister of Education if she will take steps to arrange for the provision of transport for the purpose of facilitating the attendance of pupils living in East Surrey who attend the Regina Coeli School, South Croydon, in accordance with the wishes of their parents.

Miss Horsbrugh

The Surrey local education authority is not obliged to provide transport for these children or to pay their travelling expenses, and I should not feel justified in requesting it to do so.

Mr. Doughty

In view of the hardship caused to the parents of these children, who have to pay for the transport themselves, which is not in conformity with the spirit and probably the letter of the 1944 Act, will she look into this matter again?

Miss Horsbrugh

I have look into it very carefully but, as I have informed my hon. Friend, this school has not been recognised as efficient; it is an independent school. For that reason, I cannot ask the Surrey local authority to pay transport to this school, which has not yet been recognised as efficient.