2004 press releases

Local MP Joins Lib Dem Campaign To Save School Buses For 600,000 children

Lewes MP and Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary Norman Baker has joined fellow Lib Dem MPs in launching a campaign to save school buses, many of which face the axe under new Government proposals to end schoolchildren's automatic entitlement to free school transport. These proposals form part of the Government's draft School Transport Bill and - should they go ahead - could result in 600,000 children losing the school bus and an extra 200 million car miles being added to the already congested school run.

Speaking about his campaign, Norman comments:

"Under these Government proposals schoolchildren will miss out on a vital service and families that rely upon it will be left high and dry.

"The Government's plans would be disastrous not only for parents and children but also for the environment. Parents would be forced back into their cars, resulting in up to 18% more cars on the already congested school run and a rise in carbon dioxide emissions of up to 7550 tonnes each year. By curtailing the use of school buses at a time when they should instead be expanding it the Government will shatter for good any remaining credibility that their flimsy environmental policies have left.

"School children have a right to free and environmentally-friendly transport to school and this proposal must be stopped before the Bill comes before Parliament. With this in mind I have along with my Lib Dem parliamentary colleagues launched a petition and have called upon the Education Secretary, Charles Clarke and the Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling to stop plans to remove free travel for children who travel more than three miles to school."

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