§ Mr. Haynesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any specific provision is made when determining the rate support grant to meet the costs of the travelling fares of children travelling to and from school; and upon what assumptions such a provision is made.
§ Mr. KingI refer the hon. Gentleman to the publication "Grant Related Expenditure: How the Expenditure Needs of Local Authorities are assessed in the New Block Grant" copies of which are in the Library. He will find that the relative costs of school transport are allowed for by adjusting the assessment of grant related expenditures in respect of schools provision to allow for the sparsity of school population. This is in part to reflect higher transport costs in rural areas.