HL Deb 19 June 1997 vol 580 cc124-5WA
Lord Lucas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to devolve responsibility for home to school transport to schools.

Baroness Blackstone

We have no plans to do so.

Lord Lucas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whose responsibility they consider it to be to maintain discipline on publicly provided home to school transport; and whether they consider it possible for the driver of a double decker bus to do this on his own.

Baroness Blackstone

The maintenance of discipline on transport vehicles is linked to pupil safety. Interpretation of the law in any particular case is a matter for the courts, but it is generally considered that the safety of children on journeys to and from school is the responsibility of the operators of the vehicles in which they travel. Where transport is arranged but not operated by a local education authority, the authority will also have a responsibility as regards pupil safety. LEAs should provide supervision if they consider it necessary to do so.

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