Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether section 26 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) permits school crossing patrols to be appointed and operated by schools or bodies other than the local authority.

The provision of the school crossing patrol service is a matter for the local authority. Legislation gives ‘Appropriate Authorities’ the power to make arrangements (for example with schools and other bodies) for the patrolling of places where children cross roads on their way to or from school, but does not impose a duty on them to do so. The legislation defines Appropriate Authorities outside Greater London as the council of the county, unitary authority or metropolitan district; there are slightly different arrangements in London and in Scotland.