Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Local Bus Services: Travel to School

Thursday 21 November 2024 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Parents in Tunbridge Wells face difficulties due to timing issues with bus services affecting children's school attendance.
  • Kent county council received 23.1 million as part of a 1 billion package aimed at improving bus services in the UK.
  • Transport authorities will receive new powers and funding to improve bus service punctuality, aiding students in reaching educational institutions on time.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mike Martin Lib Dem Tunbridge Wells
Transport
Context

Parents in Tunbridge Wells are concerned about their children's travel to school via local buses. The No. 2 and No. 297 buses present issues with either being too early or arriving late.

Question

In my constituency, parents have told me about difficulties that their children face in getting to Skinners' Kent academy due to timing issues with the No. 2 and No. 297 buses. The No. 2 arrives 90 minutes early, while the No. 297 is 15 minutes late. Over a school year, this amounts to 50 hours of missed education time. Kent received £23 million for bus services. What will be done to ensure that this funding increases the frequency of services so children can arrive on time?

Answer from Mike Kane

Kent county council has been given £23.1 million as part of our £1 billion package for buses. We expect to see a better bus service across the country in the future, particularly addressing rural underfunding issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific ask about increasing frequency with allocated budget.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Mike Martin Lib Dem Tunbridge Wells
Education Transport
Context

Parents in Tunbridge Wells have contacted the MP about issues with local buses and children's travel to school. The No. 2 and No. 79 buses provide insufficient service.

Question

A group of parents have expressed concerns over their children's access to Skinners' Kent academy via the No. 2 or No. 79 bus services, noting that the No. 2 arrives too early, while the No. 79 is late by 15 minutes, resulting in a significant loss of educational time over the year.

Answer from Mike Kane

For logistic reasons, closed school services are not currently included in the fare cap scheme. However, we expect to see significant improvements across our country's bus services following a £1 billion investment package.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific ask about better service frequency and punctuality with allocated budget.

How: Logistic Reasons

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Neil Duncan-Jordan Lab Poole
Transport
Context

Parents have contacted the MP about concerns regarding school transport costs and eligibility for bus fare caps.

Question

Over recent weeks, parents have inquired whether school transport can be included within the scope of the current bus fare cap scheme. Will the Department agree to review this issue?

Answer from Mike Kane

Services from participating operators that serve schools are open to the public and run all year, making them eligible for inclusion in the scheme. However, closed school services cannot currently be included due to logistical reasons.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific ask about reviewing eligibility of school transport within fare cap.

How: Logistical Reasons

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Education Transport
Context

Concerns raised about the accessibility of educational opportunities due to high costs associated with bus fare and lack of concessionary travel rights.

Question

A constituent has contacted me regarding their inability to afford college attendance due to a £1,500 annual cost. Is it not reasonable that children should have access to concessionary bus travel on par with pensioners?

Answer from Mike Kane

As a former teacher, I understand the importance of getting students to their educational institutions. The £1 billion investment in bus services aims at improving access to education for young people through better local service integration.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific ask about extending national-level concessionary travel rights.

How: Local Service Improvements

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Alistair Strathern Lab Hitchin
Transport
Context

Rural communities in towns and villages often rely on buses for daily activities, including children's travel to school. The reliability and punctuality of these services are critical.

Question

In Holwell, my constituency, families depend heavily on buses for day-to-day needs and children's education. However, the lack of reliable service is increasingly making it hard for them to count on regular schedules. What new powers and funding will be given to transport authorities to help ensure punctuality?

Answer from Mike Kane

The £955 million investment aims at giving local communities the necessary tools to hold operators accountable for bus service punctuality, ensuring young people reach their educational institutions on time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address specifics of new powers and funding provided.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email