Free School Transport (Hansard, 21 February 1996)

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the costs of free school transport in real and constant price terms in each year since 1979. [15461]

§ Mr. Ancram
The information is as follows:

Net expenditure Constant prices

£ £

1979–80 7,842,838 19,238,236

1980–81 10,437,504 21,638,179

1981–82 11,418,080 21,583,266

1982–83 12,478,738 22,020,061

1983–84 13,146,436 22,170,014

1984–85 13,757,835 22,090,944

1985–86 15,240,425 23,308,242

1986–87 15,443,247 22,923,740

1987–88 17,918,092 25,138,700

1988–89 19,056,271 25,058,616

1989–90 20,602,261 25,323,091

1990–91 23,229,059 26,432,779

1991–92 27,447,462 29,397,769

1992–93 30,015,832 30,891,680

1993–94 32,199,782 32,804,032

1994–95¹ 35,000,000 35,000,000

¹ Estimate.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils have benefited from free school transport in each year since 1979; and if the pupils were in primary or secondary education. [15462]

§ Mr. Ancram
The information is set out in the table. Details by school sector are available only from 1984–85:

Primary Post primary Special Total

1979–80 — — — 83,556

1980–81 — — — 87,560

1981–82 — — — 89,039

1982–83 — — — 91,408

1983–84 — — — 91,663

1984–85 22,038 69,514 — 91,552

1985–86 22,307 70,456 — 92,763

1986–87 22,627 68,768 — 91,395

1987–88 22,930 71,140 494 94,564

1988–89 22,896 71,218 1,278 95,392

1989–90 23,215 72,835 1,281 97,331

1990–91 22,261 73,491 3,737 99,489

1991–92 20,958 76,523 4,619 102,100

1992–93 23,569 78,513 4,951 107,033

1993–94 24,683 80,015 5,015 109,713

1994–95 25,445 82,367 5,556 113,368

1995–96 25,931 84,225 5,799 115,955

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what limits there are on the financial assistance that is given to parents for free school transport for their children. [15460]
169W

§ Mr. Ancram
Free home-to-home transport is currently provided where a pupil gains admission to a school outside statutory walking distance from home—defined as two miles for pupils under 11 and three miles for other pupils, measured by the nearest available route—and provided that a public or board transport service to or in the vicinity of the school is already available.

	Net expenditure	Constant prices
	£	£
1979–80	7,842,838	19,238,236
1980–81	10,437,504	21,638,179
1981–82	11,418,080	21,583,266
1982–83	12,478,738	22,020,061
1983–84	13,146,436	22,170,014
1984–85	13,757,835	22,090,944
1985–86	15,240,425	23,308,242
1986–87	15,443,247	22,923,740
1987–88	17,918,092	25,138,700
1988–89	19,056,271	25,058,616
1989–90	20,602,261	25,323,091
1990–91	23,229,059	26,432,779
1991–92	27,447,462	29,397,769
1992–93	30,015,832	30,891,680
1993–94	32,199,782	32,804,032
1994–95¹	35,000,000	35,000,000
¹ Estimate.

	Primary	Post primary	Special	Total
1979–80	—	—	—	83,556
1980–81	—	—	—	87,560
1981–82	—	—	—	89,039
1982–83	—	—	—	91,408
1983–84	—	—	—	91,663
1984–85	22,038	69,514	—	91,552
1985–86	22,307	70,456	—	92,763
1986–87	22,627	68,768	—	91,395
1987–88	22,930	71,140	494	94,564
1988–89	22,896	71,218	1,278	95,392
1989–90	23,215	72,835	1,281	97,331
1990–91	22,261	73,491	3,737	99,489
1991–92	20,958	76,523	4,619	102,100
1992–93	23,569	78,513	4,951	107,033
1993–94	24,683	80,015	5,015	109,713
1994–95	25,445	82,367	5,556	113,368
1995–96	25,931	84,225	5,799	115,955