§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider making a financial contribution by his Department for the cost of school transport of all children who reside between two and three miles from school whose parents are in receipt of state benefits and whose local education authority does not pay free school transport between such distances.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. Local education authorities have a duty under the 1944 Education Act to provide transport for children attending school where they consider it necessary, and they are empowered under the same Act to pay travelling expenses instead of providing transport.