School Bus Services (Fares) (Hansard, 22 November 1976)

§ Mr. Brotherton
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what savings in public expenditure would result if free school bus services were replaced by services charging half-fare for children 854W Wales and the eight English economic planning regions at the beginning of each year from 1971 to 1976 are given in the table below.
The estimated numbers of non-industrial civil servants in the London area, which are included under " South-East " in the table, as at 1st January in each year from 1971 to 1976 are as follows:
149,500 148,200 145,100 142,500 141,700^* 150,500^*
^*Since 1st April 1974 "the London area" has been defined by an 18-mile radius from Charing Cross, whereas formerly a 16-miles radius applied.
Comparable information for industrial civil servants is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
(2) how many places in nursery classes were available in 1975–76 within the Oldham Metropolitan District; and how many are available in the current year.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
Information on children in school is collected at January of each year. The number of full-time equivalent nursery education places in occupation in maintained schools in the areas specified in January of the years 1973 to 1976 were as follows. Comparable figures for earlier years ate not available.
aged under 16 years, according to the distance travelled.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
It is not possible to give a precise estimate; but any savings on the total annual cost, now estimated at £80 million, would be partly offset by additional administrative costs.
855W
More importantly without remission for hardship, for which no provision exists, some parents of children having to travel long distances would find the financial burden intolerable under such a system—as some parents indeed find it now over lesser distances.

§ Mr. Richard Wainwright
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of children of nursery age are accommodated in maintained nursery schools and classes this year in the Leeds, Kirklees, Wakefield, Calderdale and Oldham Metropolitan Districts, respectively.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
On the assumption that the number of children of nursery age in any given Metropolitan District can be estimated as about one-half of the 1–4 age group, the proportions in receipt of nursery education in maintained schools at January 1976 in the areas specified were as follows:

FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME PUPILS UNDER 5 AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE NURSERY AGE GROUP^*

Metropolitan Districts In nursery schools In nursery classes at primary schools

Calderdale 1.6 14.7

Kirklees 6.9 5.9

Leeds 1.3 11.2

Wakefield 3.5 14.9

Oldham 2.8 6.6

^* One half of the population 1–4 according to the Registrar-General's estimate.

January^* of each year

1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 (provisional)

Nursery schools and departments … 4.1 4.5 4.9 5.1 5.5

Nursery classes in primary schools … 5.7 6.3 7.3 8.4 9.7

^* Previous September in respect of 1975 and 1976 data for Scotland, included in the nursery schools and departments totals.

FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME PUPILS UNDER 5 AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE NURSERY AGE GROUP^*
Metropolitan Districts	In nursery schools	In nursery classes at primary schools
Calderdale	1.6	14.7
Kirklees	6.9	5.9
Leeds	1.3	11.2
Wakefield	3.5	14.9
Oldham	2.8	6.6
^* One half of the population 1–4 according to the Registrar-General's estimate.

		January^* of each year
		1972	1973	1974	1975	1976 (provisional)
Nursery schools and departments	…	4.1	4.5	4.9	5.1	5.5
Nursery classes in primary schools	…	5.7	6.3	7.3	8.4	9.7
^* Previous September in respect of 1975 and 1976 data for Scotland, included in the nursery schools and departments totals.