§ Mr. SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the increasing number of roadside assaults on, and abductions of young children he intends to seek to change the current provisions for school transport within the Education Acts, and to make available additional resources for local authorities to use their discretion in providing transport in rural areas.
§ Mr. RifkindI have no plans to change the current provisions for school transport. Education authorities have a wide discretion in this area and they are in the best position to assess and determine arrangements in the light of local needs and circumstances.
The special circumstances of school transport in rural areas are fully taken into account in arriving al the provision for relevant expenditure in the calculation of revenue support grant; but it is for authorities individually to set their own budgetary priorities.