§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if drivers of private buses are entitled to refuse to carry a pupil they believe will cause dangers to safety on the bus. [7821]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Public Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990 entitle a bus driver both to remove any passenger who puts at risk or unreasonably impedes or causes discomfort to any other passenger or to operating staff, and to request a police constable to remove such a person. The driver also has responsibility under general legislation to exercise proper control of the vehicle, and to ensure that the vehicle does not exceed its legal carrying capacity.
If the vehicle is operating under contract, any additional grounds on which drivers may refuse the right of carriage are a matter for the operator and the body hiring it under the terms of the contract. A relevant factor in the case of a vehicle hired by a school may be whether the pupils are accompanied by a supervisor or not.