12 March 2004
Education Secretary Charles Clarke has published a draft Bill to enable councils to pilot methods of reducing school-run traffic.
It includes a power to allow councils to charge for school transport, with the proceeds reinvested in this service.
Clarke told the Commons' select transport committee that he wanted to allow councils maximum flexibility to design pilots suitable to their local circumstances. He said that one car in 11 during the morning peak in term time is taking children to school.
Some 40% of primary school pupils and 20% of secondary pupils are driven to school, twice the proportion in 1984.
PFmar2004
