HC Deb 23 June 1976 vol 913 c526W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the date and the mileage limits that were then applicable when Parliament first authorised the free transport of children to school, and the corresponding dates and mileage criteria for any changes that have taken place subsequently.

Miss Margaret Jackson

The Education Act 1902 gave local authorities power to provide transport and the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act 1907 linked this, for school attendance purposes, with the then applicable walking distance—effectively a maximum of three miles for all ages. This obtained until the present walking distances, of two and three miles for pupils under and over eight respectively, were introduced by the Education Act 1944.