§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will undertake a study of the adequacy of safety standards that currently obtain in the transportation of children to school in Scotland;
(2) what plans he has to meet representatives of education authorities in Scotland to discuss safety in school transport;
(3) if he will publish the current rules relating to safety belts and other safety equipment on school transport vehicles in Scotland;
(4) what plans he has to make individual seats and safety harnesses obligatory on all school transport vehicles in Scotland;
(5) if he will estimate the additional cost of making individual seats and safety harnesses obligatory on all school transport vehicles in Scotland;
(6) if he will consider introducing members of staff as monitors on any double-decker buses used to transport children to school in Scotland;
655W(7) what consideration he has given to requiring manufacturers of minibuses for school transport to reinforce areas of the floor to enable seat belts to be fitted;
(8) what plans he has to impose stricter safety standards on education authorities involved in transportation of children to school;
(9) if he will consider making finance available to Scottish education authorities to enable them to finance safety improvements in school vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Office has a policy interest in terms of the general provision by local authorities of a school transport service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has responsibility for vehicle safety matters and the relevant legislation on a United Kingdom basis, including policy on vehicle construction, the provision of seat belts in all vehicles and the three for two concession in respect of school children on school transport.
The Department of Transport has recently completed a survey on the full technical and cost implications of fitting seat belts nationally in minibuses and coaches and matters such as the three for two concession. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Scottish Office to conduct a separate survey in Scotland or to comment in advance on the outcome of the Department of Transport's review.
With regard to the provision of supervisors on school transport in Scotland, education authorities already have a duty of care, in law, for the safety of pupils when under their charge. It is therefore for them to decide how supervision should be provided for on school buses. We shall consider whether further measures need to be taken in the light of such decisions as may follow the Department of Transport's review.
Title Cost of production £ Cost of printing £ Cost of distribution£ Total Cost £ 1992 Examination results in Scottish schools 1990–92 (published November 1992) — 7,672.50 567.60 8,24.010 1993 Examination results in Scottish schools 1991–93 (published November 1993) 2,575.00 5,056.00 7,631.00 Scottish schools: Costs 1993–94 (published December 1993) 2,371.00 9,895.00 388.00 12,654.00 Leaver destinations from Scottish Secondary Schools 1992–93 (Published December 1993) 1,353.00 5,313.00 259.00 6,925.00 Overall total 35,450.10