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School Transport (Inspection)

Volume 530: debated on Thursday 22 July 1954

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40.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will make provision that all vehicles hired by local education authorities for the transport of school children shall be subject to some form of inspection to ensure their mechanical fitness for the work.

No, Sir. In the case of those classes of vehicle which are not already subject to periodic statutory inspection, my right hon. Friend thinks it best to leave local education authorities to choose their own method of satisfying themselves that contractors will provide vehicles which are roadworthy.

But is the Minister aware that a constituent of mine was nearly killed in one of these vehicles, because of neglect in this matter, that I have since had a series of buck-passing letters from the Ministry about this case, and that I was assured only three weeks ago that the same vehicle, in which was a party of children, ran downhill backwards owing to the cylinder head blowing off and because the brakes were not working? [Laughter.]

I do not think that road accidents are funny. All motor vehicles are required by regulations made under the Road Traffic Acts to be in roadworthy condition. The Kent local education authority provide, in their contract, that the contractor will be responsible for the safety of the children from the time they enter his vehicle until they are put down by him.

I am not quite sure whether my right hon. Friend is aware of the second case to which the hon. Baronet has referred, but she is aware of the first one and has the deepest sympathy with the child and with the relatives of the child. On the whole, however, she still thinks that these matters are best left to local education authorities, who must be presumed to be able to manage such things.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman, in view of what is, from my point of view as a local government man, the excellent doctrine of leaving it to the local education authority, whether he would be prepared to advise his right hon. Friend that this excellent doctrine might be extended to the London County Council in respect of the Kidbrooke Comprehensive School?

That is quite a different question. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] Yes, because it is (a) not quite the same principle, and (b) the application of the principle must vary very much according to the matter in hand. My right hon. Friend, or even I myself, would be willing to discuss that question with the right hon. Gentleman at any appropriate time, but not on this Question.