§ Mr. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in his discussion with local authorities and other interested bodies on school transport; and whether he has had any representations on the need to reduce the qualifying distance from home to school 368W which entitles schoolchildren to free school transport.
§ Mr. William RossI have obtained and am considering the views of the Scottish local authority associations and certain other interested Scottish bodies on the recommendations of a Working Party on School Transport set up by the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales. The Association of County Councils in Scotland took the view that the statutory walking distances should be reduced. I have received no other representations on this specific question.