School Buses (Hansard, 28 May 2004)

§ Mr. Charles Clarke

Free transport is always necessary for a pupil of compulsory school age (five to 16) who attends the nearest suitable school if it is beyond statutory walking distances. These are two miles for pupils aged up to eight and three miles for those aged eight and over. This is measured by the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, may walk with reasonable safety.

Free transport might exceptionally be necessary for a five to 16-year-old who lives within walking distance of school, or who does not attend the nearest suitable school: it is for a local education authority to consider such a case on its merits. In addition, they have discretion to provide assistance in a wide range of other circumstances. It is for each LEA to decide on its discretionary transport policy in line with local priorities and to defend it locally.

The current school transport legislation dates to 1944 and has not kept pace with changes to the education system. There are also growing concerns about congestion on the school run, pollution, obesity and lack of exercise. The draft School Transport Bill would seek to allow a small number of local authorities to address the serious environmental and practical issues caused by increasing car use on the school run, and provide attractive alternatives to the family car on the home to school journey.

The Bill will allow pilot authorities to charge fares for those in receipt of school transport, but only at a level which will not increase car use. There are also a number of safeguards built in. Only LEAs that volunteer to become pilots following local consultation will be able to charge and I will then have to approve schemes. While the draft Bill provides as a minimum for pupils entitled to free school meals (FSM) to receive free transport, we hope LEAs will experiment with different approaches to means testing, e.g. considering number of children in family, those just above FSM income cut-off etc.