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School bus lesson for councils

14th March 1975, Page 21
14th March 1975
Page 21
Page 21, 14th March 1975 — School bus lesson for councils
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Bus, School Bus, Education

trona our political correspondent

LOCAL AUTHORITIES, particularly in rural areas, are to be urged by the Government to make greater use of school buses to ease passenger transport problems.

Thousands of school buses stand idle for a large part of each day and at weekends when they are not being used to take children to and from school.

Apart from providing much needed services for the general public, fares taken could be used to offset the soaring cost of operating and maintaining the school bus service.

Over the past five years local authority expenditure on school transport has increased from £20m a year to a staggering £45m.

Under Section 203 of the Local Government Act 1972, county councils have a responsibility to ensure the "most economic use of public transport" — including school buses.

All they have to do is to apply for permission to carry fare-paying passengers, but only a handful of county councils have so far taken advantage of this provision in the Act. Transport Minister Mr Fred Mulley is now considering issuing a circular to local authorities drawing attention to this power and urging them tc make full use of it.

Within the Educatior Department a review of thr whole question of th( operation and financing 01 school bus services is ir progress.

Tags

Organisations: Educatior Department
People: Fred Mulley

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