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Education and Inspections Bill

I always regard guidance as a form of tertiary legislation that has no scrutiny in the House, and prefer to use primary legislation if possible. Clause 77 is very clear. New section 509AD(3) defines ““religion”” as ““any religion”” and states that"““a reference to religion includes a reference to lack of religion””." As it is clear in primary legislation, it is unnecessary to have it in guidance as well, although there is no harm in doing so. The Forum for Rural Children and Young People has said:"““Rural children and young people often find school transport unresponsive to their needs.””" Those problems were echoed by the social exclusion unit in its report, ““Making the Connections: Final Report on Transport and Social Exclusion””. It noted that, in some areas, children are prevented from taking part in extra-curricular activities because of the lack of public transport at the required time. The Central Council of Physical Recreation states in the report that between 40 and 45 per cent. of pupils in a particular school were missing out on after-school activities due to transport constraints. The report also highlighted a more general concern about the availability of transport in rural areas. More than half the people in those areas live more than 13 minutes’ walk away from an hourly daytime bus service, and 29 per cent. of rural settlements have no bus service at all. This lack of public transport—combined with the lack, and high cost, of taxis—leaves many people unable to get to key places. All this becomes even more difficult when a local denominational school closes and children are forced to travel even further to attend school. The remaining amendments in this group amend the Transport Act 1985. They will ensure that school transport is not regulated on the same basis as public transport. In particular, they will give local authorities greater flexibility to vary the times of services. These are not controversial amendments. It is unreasonable to treat school transport used only by pupils at a school as though it were the same as general public transport that is open to all. We support the remaining amendments in the group.