§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to arrange for school bus drivers to be(a) trained and (b) given powers to control any misbehaviour by passengers. [9612]
§ Mr. WilsonThe training of school bus drivers is a matter for the operator and the relevant education authority. The Public Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990 enable a bus driver to remove any passenger who puts at risk, or unreasonably impedes, or causes discomfort to, any other passenger or to operating staff and to request a police constable to remove such a person. If the vehicle is operating under contract to an education authority, any additional grounds on which drivers may refuse the right of carriage are a matter for the operator under the terms of the contract. It is for each education authority to decide whether to provide supervisors on buses hired by them. In doing so, they will take into account that education authorities' common law duty of care for pupils is supplemented by a statutory duty under the Schools (Safety and Supervision of Pupils) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 to take reasonable care for the safety of pupils when under their care.