Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support children in rural areas who do not have access to free school transport.

Local authorities must provide free home to school transport for eligible children. This includes providing transport for those who attend their nearest suitable school where it is beyond the statutory walking distances of 2 miles for children under 8 years old and 3 miles for those aged 8 to 16. They must also provide transport where there is no safe walking route.

Local authorities also have discretionary powers to provide transport to children who are not eligible. It is for them to determine whether and how to use these powers taking account of local circumstances and affordability.