New laws put forward for school transport

The Minister has laid before the Assembly the draft of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008. Ieuan Wyn Jones said:

In Wales we know from tragic results that poor behaviour whilst travelling to and from school is a real threat to safety. This measure will provide a framework to improve safety by tackling unacceptable behaviour.

The Measure also represents an important opportunity to deliver improvements for learners through increasing entitlement to transport for young children, making it free for primary school children if they live two miles or further from the nearest suitable school. At present the law is three miles from the age of 8.

The Measure will also allow Local authorities to change school start and finish times in order to make transport arrangements more effective, efficient or environmentally sustainable.

This new legislation will enable real improvements in safety as well as improve access to Welsh-medium education as set out in our ‘One Wales’ programme of government.

Mr Jones said he aimed to have the main provisions in place for the start of the academic year in 2009 and has made clear his intention to seek fresh legislative power for the National Assembly to take further action on bus regulation and safety issues. He said:

The new measure and guidance will be put in place under powers already available. However, through extensive consultation I am aware of widespread concern regarding bus regulation and safety issues – which at present we cannot fully tackle because of constraints on Assembly law-making power.

I will therefore be making the strongest possible case to seek enhancement of the National Assembly’s powers to take the steps needed to ensure maximum safety for our young people.

In the meantime, I am today issuing new guidance to local authorities on Home to School Transport which sets out best practice for the provision of high quality, safe and effective home to school transport for pupils. As well as encouraging checks on drivers and consideration of the benefits of CCTV and use of escorts, I am discouraging the use of the three for two seating concession and of double deck buses for travel to and from school.

Notes

• The Minister after carefully considering the views of consultees and the recommendations in the Enterprise and Learning Committee report has made several changes and additions to the Measure.
• In June 2007 the draft Measure was issued for public consultation. A copy of the consultation document (which includes the consultation questions) and a summary of the consultation responses can be accessed at the link to the side of the page.
• The National Assembly’s Enterprise and Learning Committee also scrutinised the draft Measure and its report was published on 21 November 2007 and can be accessed via the following link: http://www.assemblywales.org/cr-ld6874.pdf.
  

http://new.wales.gov.uk/consultations/closed/transcloscons/1523880/?lang=en

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/?lang=en

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/?lang=en