The Welsh Assembly Government`s response to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee`s Report on School Transport

I welcome the report of the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee on its review of school transport. The report reflects evidence presented by a range of organisations and individuals with an interest in school transport. I extend my appreciation of the work to committee members and all those who participated in this important policy review.

The need to ensure safe school transport remains high on the agenda. It does, however, raise complex issues that local education authorities, bus operators, schools, parents, pupils and the Assembly Government have to tackle collectively. The report recognises this complexity and recommends a number of ways in which the current position could be improved. I hope that these recommendations, and the work in hand by a number of the parties, can help to prevent a recurrence of recent tragic events in Wales.

The report makes 30 recommendations, the majority of which are directed at local education authorities, which have statutory responsibility for home-to-school transport. Five recommendations are addressed to the Assembly Government. The remainder are for the UK Government, LEAs and schools. We have accepted four of the five recommendations aimed at the Assembly Government. Two of the recommendations—the need for guidance to clarify current legal responsibilities and liabilities, and for guidance on preparing codes of conduct for school transport—will be dealt with in new school transport guidance to be issued for consultation shortly. A third recommendation asks that the Assembly Government review current practice on risk assessment and issue guidance to schools. I have given a commitment that the review will commence in the autumn.

Another recommendation was that the guidance accompanying the School Transport Bill should take account of the committee’s suggestions on the draft Bill. I have accepted this in principle. The Bill did not receive Royal Assent before the dissolution of the UK Parliament before the general election and no decisions have yet been taken by the UK Government on its future. However, should the Bill be reintroduced to Parliament, we will take into account the committee’s comments.

The final recommendation for the Assembly Government suggests that bus passes, possibly linked to the proposed half-fare bus pass scheme for 16 to 18-year-olds, be based on smartcard technology. I have not been able to accept this recommendation at this time. Pilot schemes for half-fare travel by 16 to 18-year-olds on buses will be launched by two local authorities—Wrexham and Bridgend—this summer. However, there is no requirement for pilot schemes to use smartcards. We are reviewing the potential for an Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation-compliant smartcard system for public transport throughout Wales and also studying the scope for an all-Wales integrated entitlement card. However, it is too early to give any firm commitment about the future use of smartcards on school transport.

With regard to the recommendations aimed at other bodies, as indicated in the written response, the Assembly Government can neither commit LEAs or schools to accept these recommendations nor compel implementation. However, we have drawn the recommendations to the attention of local education authorities and we will strongly encourage local authorities to work together to look at implementing the recommendations across Wales.

I have been given assurances of the Welsh Local Government Association’s commitment to this today. My officials will also seek views through the informal co-ordination group, set up in March 2004, which involves education and transport interests within the Assembly Government, the Welsh Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Education in Wales, the Association of Local Authority Travel Co-ordinators, and the Confederation of Passenger Transport. The purpose of the group is to share information on initiatives being taken by the parties and to promote the sharing of good practice.

Although I cannot commit LEAs, schools or other bodies in respect of the recommendations directed at them, the written response published last week provides my initial views. In providing these comments, I took account of the comments that I received on the report from the Association of Transport Co-ordinators Wales, the South East Wales Transport Alliance and the National Association of Head Teachers Cymru. All three welcomed the report but made comments on the practicalities of implementing some of the recommendations—not least in the short term.

The Education and Lifelong Learning Committee’s report is one of a number of recent initiatives. I acknowledge the helpful contributions made by other organisations. The WLGA and the National Foundation for Educational Research recently produced a joint report into school transport. The Association of Local Authority Transport Operators and the Confederation of Passenger Transport have also worked together to consider operational and contractual issues. The Children’s Commissioner for Wales has also played an important role in engaging with children and young people in preparing his report ‘As Long as I Get There Safe’.

Members may also be aware of the videos and teaching packs that have recently been produced. One was developed by Bridgend County Borough Council, working with a consortium of authorities and part-funded by the Assembly Government; the other was produced by Belt Up School Kids. They both address the key issue of pupil behaviour on school buses.

Many local authorities have already taken action to improve the safety of school transport, which I very much welcome. I am particularly pleased that the Vale of Glamorgan council has introduced a package of measures following the Ystradowen bus crash in December 2002. The use of a code of behaviour, to which pupils and their parents sign up, is a significant step.

They and other authorities have introduced additional safety measures, such as the use of escorts and closed circuit television to respond to the problems of misbehaviour. The close working evident in these projects between LEAs, transport departments, transport operators, schools, pupils and parents sets a standard of good practice that I hope will become embedded across Wales. Ultimately, all of the other action will fail if LEAs, schools and bus operators are unable to impress on pupils and their parents the crucial importance of sensible and safe behaviour. It is a message that needs constant reinforcement.

Taken together, I believe that the actions being taken by local authorities, transport operators, schools, the Assembly Government and others will lead to better pupil behaviour and safer pupil transport. I welcome the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee’s report as a key contribution towards achieving these outcomes.