 Councillors have questioned their school transport obligations |
A council decision to seek legal advice on the provision of free transport to denominational schools for Roman Catholic pupils has come under fire. Scottish Borders Council wanted to clarify its obligations to pupils more than three miles from a faith school.
A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said the move contradicted Scottish Executive policy.
He added that the he believed the council would find it was legally obliged to provide such transport.
Concerns were raised by councillors that they might have to pay for 80-mile round trips for pupils attending RC schools on parental choice.
Deputy leader Michael Cook thought parents should meet extra costs if they chose a faith school when there was a non-denominational one in their catchment area.
Council officials have warned that this could be regarded as discrimination on religious grounds.
Legal advice
Catholic Church in Scotland spokesman Peter Kearney said that any such move would contradict Scottish Executive policy.
Education officials in the Borders have admitted that unconditional free transport for Roman Catholics was not previously part of council policy.
During a review of the service, the provision was included on legal advice.
However, members of the education committee recently voted 7-3 to delay a decision on the free transport issue.
They have sought detailed costings and legal confirmation that the council must transport RC pupils more than three miles from their nearest school.
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