§ 10. Sir A. Meyerasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of recent fare increases which now impose hardship on families living just within the statutory distance from their children's schools, he will legislate to reduce this statutory distance to half a mile.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasNo, Sir. Local—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. No hon. Member has a prescriptive right to ask a supplementary question.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasLocal education authorities already have adequate discretionary powers to provide transport for pupils living within the statutory walking distance.
§ Sir A. MeyerIs my right hon. Friend aware that since it seems to be the policy of this nationalised monopoly to place the heaviest burdens on those who can least bear them, something must be done about this? Is he further aware that some families pay up to 14s. for each child which they send to school if they live within the two-mile limit?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI am aware of these difficulties, but when people live nearer school than the statutory distance local education authorities have powers to provide free transport and may exercise those powers in special circumstances.
§ Mr. Alec JonesWill the Minister take some advice from local education authorities in Wales on this matter? Their views do not seem to be borne out by what the right hon. Gentleman has just said. Will he not call a conference of local education authorities in Wales in order to examine this pressing problem? Unless something is done some of our people will shortly be unable to afford to send their children to school in order to benefit from the free education service.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI shall be meeting representatives of all local education authorities shortly, and I shall be pleased to discuss this matter with them.