HC Deb 17 December 1974 vol 883 cc1337-8
9. Mr. Stanley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has completed his review of policy on concessionary bus fares for school-children; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Armstrong

My right hon. Friend's review of the arrangements for school transport has been limited to the provision of free or assisted transport under the Education Act 1944. The question of concessionary fares, in the sense of lower fares for children who are not in receipt of free or assisted school transport, is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

All the local authority associations have now submitted views on the recommendations made by the Working Party on School Transport. My right hon. Friend will now consider the working party's report in consultation with those of his right hon. Friends whose responsibilities are concerned.

Mr. Stanley

Does the Minister recognise that that is a disappointing reply in view of his undertaking on the first Adjournment debate of this Parliament to try to produce a statement on Government policy towards the working party's report by the Christmas Recess? Will he hasten the Government's review of the working party's report, bearing in mind the real concern of hon. Members on both sides of the House about the inflexibility of the present system of concessionary bus fares and the considerable financial burden that it is placing on the lowest income families who live just within the two- and three-mile limits?

Mr. Armstrong

I acknowledge that my reply will be disappointing. We had hoped to come to conclusions before the Christmas Recess. The truth is that an analysis of the replies that we have had confirms that there are no clear and satisfactory solutions to this difficult and almost intractable problem. I assure the hon. Gentleman and the House that we arc giving the matter urgent consideration.

Mr. Madel

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that the three-mile rule is now out of date and is causing great difficulty? May we have an early change of this rule?

Mr. Armstrong

Yes. Since these limits were imposed there have been changes which make them quite out of date. We are certainly taking that matter into consideration in our urgent review.