Too many buses are sub-standard, MPs were told

The Commons' Transport Committee accuses ministers of taking a "leisurely approach" to curbing the school run and road congestion.

MPs examined a draft bill under which councils will be given the power to bring in pilot schemes to cut car use.

They say it does not tackle the problems with the urgency required.

"School transport is in crisis and the effects are felt by everyone who needs to travel at peak time," the MPs said.

'Leisurely approach'

Their report concludes: "It is clear that something is wrong with school transport; the legislative framework is outdated; the services provided can be substandard; parents are increasingly choosing to increase congestion by driving their children to school, rather than choosing healthier modes of transport."

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The MPs criticise what they say is the government's "leisurely approach" to the problem.

The pilot schemes, which could include controversial plans to charge better-off parents for school bus trips, are scheduled to run until 2011.

The MPs criticised standards among companies supplying school buses and called for the government to set a national minimum standard for bus contractors serving schools.

Children often travelled on buses which were 20 to 30 years old, which were likely to have technical problems and did not necessarily have seat belts, they said.

"The current system produces some school buses which are dangerous. This should not be allowed," the report said.

"It is clear that many authorities [councils] interpret 'best value' as lowest cost."

The report says school run traffic accounts for one in 10 journeys between 0800 and 0900 and that the figure rises to one in five at 0850.

And the average length of school-run journey was rising, the MPs reported.

In 1985/6, it was 1.7 miles, but by 2002 the average had risen to 2.7 miles.

21st century

The Department for Education said it welcomed the committee's scrutiny but questioned its findings.

A spokesperson said: "We do not believe our draft proposals are 'leisurely', they could bring school transport into the 21st century.

"Current legislation is more than 60 years old and was written for a different time when few people owned cars and long journeys on foot were commonplace.