§ 11. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has concluded her consideration of the report of the Local Authorities Management Services Advisory Committee on school transport and is now in a position to make a statement on the Government's position in this matter.
§ 12. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in her consideration of the report on school transport, whether she will consider instituting a free bus fare policy for all schoolchildren.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThis report, which is a technical one concerned with the feasibility of introducing new arrangements for school transport, has 211 only just been received and is being studied by officials. I hope soon to discuss with the local authority associations and schools, which may be two or three miles away from where the children live. The second point is that country children face other interested bodies both the report difficulties with the build-up of traffic, itself and its wider implications for school transport policy. Meanwhile, I am the rundown of pathways and the dark winter nights. Three miles is far too long arranging for copies of the report to be a distance for them to have to walk in placed in the Library.
§ Mr. MillerDo we really have to have a further round of consultations on the committee's report? Cannot we arrive at a decision? Will the Minister tell the House when a decision is expected in this matter?
§ Miss JacksonIt is not a matter simply of my arriving at a decision. It is a matter for the local authorities, which have to implement the policy, arriving at decisions. If the hon. Gentleman thinks that the best way to achieve that is simply to tell them what to do and leave them to get on with it, I could only look forward with horror to his ever occupying a similar post to mine.
§ Mr. SkinnerWill my hon. Friend confirm that, with underspending of about £2,000 million in the current financial year, one of the ways to avoid a similar position in the next financial year would be get some spending done? Does she not agree that part of it could be done in the Department of Education and Science by having free bus fares for all school children? That would be a very good idea and would help to redistribute income marginally, in line with the manifesto. I am prepared to offer a compromise if my hon. Friend will not go that far. Why not have half fares for those over 14 and up to 18?
§ Miss JacksonThe system which is being studied is one of flat-rate fares, which would be the same for all children and which might vary a little from one authority to another. I accept my hon. Friend's argument that people would be much more assisted by having no fare at all, but we are trying to make progress as fast as possible and the best way to do it is within present resources rather than by seeking to increase expense.
§ Mr. BoysonWill the Minister agree that two things must be borne in mind particularly in regard to transport? The first is parental choice of school, particularly for those who want denominational 212 Schools, which may be two or three miles away from where the children live. The second point is that country children face difficulties with the build-up of traffic, the rundown of pathways and the dark winter nights. Three miles is far too long a distance for them to have to walk in winter.
§ Miss JacksonWe have been trying to remove these anomalies, and that is what the report is about. But there are many families with children in inner city areas, where bus fares are so high that they place a tremendous burden on the family. It is not a simple matter.