§ Caroline FlintTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department is undertaking to establish the cost and feasibility of establishing a national school bus strategy; and what the cost is of the proposed pilot scheme approved by his Department. [4908]
§ Ms KeebleMy Department has recently commissioned a study to test the likely take-up, by children who are not entitled to free home-to-school transport, if additional school transport services were provided and the extent to which this might be influenced by cost and other factors. Separately, FirstGroup has told us that many authorities are interested in running pilot schemes using American-style yellow school buses. We reached agreement with FirstGroup earlier in the year on modifications to the vehicles it intends to use for the pilots so that they will satisfy UK regulatory requirements. We intend to commission a study to monitor these pilot schemes once they have been agreed. The cost of the pilot schemes is a matter for FirstGroup and the local authorities concerned who will wish to be assured that the pilot schemes give value for money.