asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether consultations with local education authorities have yet begun on the recent report on school transport.

There have been preliminary discussions at official level with representatives of the local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost to local authorities in England and Wales of reducing from three miles to two miles the distance laid down in the Education Act 1944 within which free transport has to be provided for school children.

At least £25 million a year.