§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what grants are available to enable coach operators to fit seat belts in coaches used in transporting children to and from school; and if he will make a statement. [23995]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThere are no grants available to coach operators to cover the coasts of fitting seat belts in their vehicles. Operators can, of course, take these costs into account, along with other overheads, when tendering for transport contracts. The additional costs to local authorities of implementing the new requirements on safety of school transport has been taken into account when determining the Education Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) in local government finance settlements since 1995–96.