§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the approximate cost of providing free travel arrangements for schoolchildren living within the statutory walking distance limits as defined in the current regulations, reducing the limits to one mile for all children, and reducing the limits to one mile for all children of eight years of age and under and two miles for all those over eight years of age.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeI have no information about numbers of children living at different distances from school within the statutory walking distances on which an estimate could be based. But any reduction in the present statutory distances must involve a significant increase in public expenditure.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is undertaking a review of the workings of the system for the provision of free school travel arrangements, and in particular of the application of the two- and three-mile walking distance limits; and when will the results of the review be made known.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeNo.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost for the year 1970–71 of providing free or concessionary transport arrangements for children travelling to and from school, whether by public transport, school buses or taxis.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThe estimated cost to L.E.A.s in the year 1970–71 is about £25 million in England and Wales. Separate figures for each country area are not available. This amount represents the cost of providing school transport both for children entitled to free travel because they live outside the statutory walking distance and for those living within the statutory walking distance for whom it is provided at the L.E.A.s discretion.