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South East118.1
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London118.5

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05 December 2003 | UK

Free school travel under threat

Article Image

A FRESH look at school transport is promised as the government considers new ways of tackling the problems posed by the school run.

It proposes the introduction of up to 20 pilot schemes which will allow local education authorities to opt out of the compulsory free travel arrangements set out in the 1944 Education Act and to instead start charging fares. Children eligible for free school meals would still travel free.

The money raised from fares would be re-invested to provide more buses.

The idea that charging for a service which is currently provided free will help encourage bus use is challenged by CPT and by the National Association of Head Teachers.

While welcoming the government's intention to encourage bus use and its statement that money from fares would be put back into buses, CPT's Simon Posner says experience shows that where charges are introduced to a service which was previously free they discourage use. "We are worried that the introduction of fares might move people away from buses and in to cars," says Posner.

At the NAHT, general secretary David Hart says: "It will not only lead to a rural revolt by parents who are going to be worst affected, but there will be parents all around the country who will be asking themselves whether this seriously undermines free education.

"There will be parents who are going to be forced willy-nilly to pay for something that, at the moment, is free of charge. It has enormous implications."

CPT stresses that the bill - which has yet to be published - will be a draft and therefore subject to change.

The Department for Education and Skills says that fares would be affordable, to discourage parents who previously enjoyed free bus transport from switching to their cars to take children to school.


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