HC Deb 02 December 1976 vol 921 c271W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the present statutory regulations governing regional councils in respect of free or reduced-fare travel for schoolchildren.

Mr. McElhone

Statutory walking distances from home to school, beyond which education authorities must provide free transport to school, are laid down in Section 42 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1962 as two miles for a child under 8 and three miles in other cases. In addition, authorities have power under Section 51 of the Act to make such arrangements for paying the whole or part of travelling expenses of school children as they consider necessary.