§ 8. Sir H. Harrisonasked the Minister of Education whether he will consider reducing the limit of two miles before the school bus system operates in remote rural areas, where there is no form of public transport.
§ Sir E. BoyleLocal education authorities have power to provide, or assist with, school transport for children who live within statutory walking distance if they consider that the circumstances justify it. This must remain a matter for their discretion.
§ Sir H. HarrisonI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, which I think we all know. Would it not be very helpful if he would give a further directive to local authorities, particularly now that the older children cannot take the 5 or 6-year-olds as they go to the secondary modern or grammar schools? Nearly all these mothers, who live just under two miles away, take their children on bicycles, often with a younger child as well, and it is a very difficult task for them.
§ Sir E, BoyleThe present arrangements are sufficiently flexible to allow local authorities to deal with the matter, but I will certainly consider the point that my hon. and gallant Friend has made.
§ Mr. SnowWould the right hon. Gentleman look very carefully at what his hon. and gallant Friend has said? It may well be that local education authorities have not recently surveyed the traffic problems in some of the rural areas, and the anxiety to which many parents are being subjected is becoming very serious indeed.