Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on taking steps to support parents with the rising cost of school transport.

The Secretary of State for Education has regular conversations with cabinet colleagues about important and topical matters including rising costs that may affect the education sector.

The Department’s home to school transport policy aims to ensure that no child is unable to access education because of a lack of transport. Local authorities must provide free home to school transport for children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of distance, special educational needs or disability, or an unsafe route. There are additional rights to free transport for low-income families aimed at helping them exercise school choice. Home to school travel and transport guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel-and-transport-guidance.