School Transport (Hansard, 18 December 1972)

§ 1. Mr. Ellis
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to ascertain how many schemes reorganising secondary education in Wales introduced after the summer holidays have resulted in increases of school bus fares being met by parents; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Thomas)
No, Sir. These are matters for the local education authority concerned.

§ Mr. Ellis
Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that in my constituency, following the reorganisation of secondary education in the Wrexham area and the introduction of the new system of the sixth-form college, some parents are having to find an appreciable sum of money in addition to that which they have had to find to pay bus fares to Wrexham? Next year one parent in particular, who will then have three children at school in Wrexham, will be obliged to find an additional sum of £3 per week from her housekeeping money. Does not the Secretary of State think that this is unreasonable, that the three-mile limit arrangement should be reviewed and certainly that it is unreasonable to expect children to walk nearly three miles to school in all weathers unless parents are obliged to find the extra money?

§ Mr. Thomas
As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Education Act 1944 lays down the statutory responsibility of local education authorities for school transport and allows them the necessary discretionary powers to provide transport for those who live within the statutory walking distance. I have no power to intervene provided the education authorities are complying with the statutory requirements.

§ Sir A. Meyer
Will my right hon. and learned Friend tell us whether any thought is being given to the possible reduction of this statutory distance? Three miles seems a very long way.

§ Mr. Thomas
The whole question of school transport in England and Wales is being considered by a working party which has been set up by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and myself. The terms of reference of the working party are to review the present arrangements including the existing law affecting the provision of school transport and to report on any changes which might be needed. The Welsh Joint Education Committee is represented.