Council’s plans to scrap bus passes for faith students raised in parliament

Councillor Dale Mulgrew

Rochdale Council’s proposals to scrap bus passes for students who attend faith schools in the borough have been raised in Parliament.

At the request of the Rochdale Liberal Democrats cross bench peer Lord David Alton tabled two questions, which will now be submitted to the relevant government department for a written response.

The first question asks whether the government has provided any advice to local authorities on the impact such a bus pass removal would have on the different sections of their school population.

The second question enquires whether the government has plans to provide any financial assistance for school transport in the future.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew who has raised concerns about the proposals, said: "This is a helpful intervention from Lord Alton as it raises the important issue of school transport in Parliament.

"It is quite clear from Rochdale's own equality assessment that this proposal to remove the bus pass will hit hard on those families who send their children to a faith school.

“This is because currently 79 per cent of bus passes provided are to pupils who attend a faith school.

"I am glad that this subject is gathering support from across the political divide, as I note that Jim Dobbin MP has signed an Early Day Motion on school transport.

"This is a subject of fundamental importance because it is about a child's access to school and to their education."

Councillor Teresa Fitzsimons, added: “This discriminatory proposal affects the parents who have the statutory right to choose a Faith school for the education of their children.

“Out of the 12 Secondary schools in the Rochdale Borough, three are faith schools. It therefore follows that these children have longer distances to travel to their school than those who attend their more local place of learning.

"I am very concerned that those who have drawn up this proposal have elected to go ahead, blaming the Government for cut-backs, without due respect to the outcomes for a proportion of the community.”

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/61239/plan-to-end-home-to-school-transport-could-hit-faith-students