§ 9. Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce new regulations to reduce the minimum distances between home and school over which local authorities are responsible for providing transport to enable pupils to attend school.
§ Dr. BoysonThis is not a matter for regulations under the present law. Section 55 of the Education Act 1944 47W requires and empowers local education authorities to provide free transport for journeys between home and school only where they consider this necessary.
§ 44. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any proposals for varying the distances over which primary and secondary school pupils, respectively, have a statutory right to free transport.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Government have no plans to amend section 55(1) of the Education Act 1944 under which pupils are entitled to free school transport on grounds of necessity. Necessity may involve factors other than distance.