asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are at present statutorily entitled to free school transport; and, of these, how many are in families receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement.

Information is not available to answer the question in this form, but it has been estimated that about 800,000 children living more than the statutory walking distance from school are transported free and that about 10 per cent. of children of school age belong to families receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement.