§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what guidance he plans to issue to local education authorities in Wales about their statutory obligations to provide transport to and from school; [3960]
(2) how many local education authorities in Wales have curtailed spending on school transport in the present year to date; by how much they have done so; and if he will make a statement; [3936]
(3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of spending by local education authorities in Wales on school transport; [3935]
(4) what is the statutory duty on local education authorities in Wales concerning the provision of free school transport; and what representations he has received from them about their difficulties in carrying out that duty. [3934]
§ Mr. HainAlthough, home to school transport is the responsibility of individual local education authorities (LEAs) Welsh Office Circular 19/95, issued in May 1995, gives guidance on the statutory obligations of LEAs in their provision of home to school transport, and their discretionary powers. A copy is in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friend has not received any representations from LEAs in respect of their statutory duties. LEAs may operate more generous transport policies than statutorily required but this is at their discretion, in the light of their assessment of local priorities. Details of spending by LEAs in Wales on school transport are not held centrally.