§ Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the anxiety of parents whose children have to walk to school along roads which have no footpaths; and whether, in view of the danger to such children, she will supply schools transport in cases of this kind where the journey exceeds a quarter of a mile.
§ Miss HorsbrughGenerally speaking I do not consider that the provision of transport for distances less than the statutory distances laid down in Section 39 (5) of the Education Act, 1944, is justifiable in present circumstances. I am willing that authorities should make more generous arrangements to meet special difficulties in particular cases but I could not regard the absence of a footpath on journeys exceeding a quarter of a mile as sufficient justification in itself for the provision of transport.