SCHOOL TRANSPORT

That this House notes the growing practice of local authorities in refusing financially to support children on school transport to the school of their choice; further notes that the Government believes in parental choice where possible; notes that local authorities are refusing to support school transport costs where the child lives closer to another school; notes in addition that no consideration is given to the fact that the parents wish the child to go to a school not the closest to them on the grounds of religion, educational offerings, size of school and medical grounds; notes that the cost to parents of this can be in excess of £500 per child; and calls on the Government to remove discretion from local authorities and ensure financial support for school transport is provided where the distance of travel is deemed reasonable, or to review the 1944 Education Act which provides an outdated pretext for the policy of many local education authorities.