Context
The question stems from concerns about rising costs affecting schools and families. An example is St Leonard's Catholic School in Durham, which has struggled to subsidise transport costs.
Question
What recent assessment he has made of trends in the cost of school transport. Although St Leonard's Catholic School in Durham has done its best to subsidise the cost of school transport for families over the past year, it can no longer afford to do so, and for some the cost per student will rise from £50 to £70 a month. Will the Government explain what they are doing to protect families in Durham from that increased and unexpected cost?
Answer from Gavin Williamson
In the past three years, there has been an 18% increase in local authority spend on school transport, reaching £1.3 billion in the year 2019-20. If the hon. Lady would be kind enough to send in more details of the issue she has raised, I would be very happy to organise for the Minister for School Standards to meet her to discuss in finer detail some of her concerns, some of the challenges that the local authority may be facing and what needs to be done by Durham County Council.
Not addressed: The increased cost and unexpected rise from £50 to £70 a month was not addressed in terms of specific measures or funding commitments
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