HL Deb 25 November 1996 vol 576 cc1-2WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list, for the years 1979 and 1985, the percentages of children travelling to school by car, school bus, scheduled bus services, train, cycle and on foot.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)

The figures are available only for particular years and in terms of journeys, not children. The figures for 1985–86 are given below.

Journeys to school by main mode for children aged 5 to 15
Percentage 1985–86
Walk 57
Bicycle 3
Car/van 17
School bus 8
Local bus 13
Rail 1
Other 1
Total 100

The figures are taken from the 1985–86 National Travel Survey. There was a 1978–79 survey, but the figures from this are not reliable enough to be used, because of the low response.