Vol. 413 No. 9
251 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the cost of the school bus service; if he will undertake a cost benefit analysis of replacing some or all of the service by distance learning, namely a combination of information technology and personal contact, based either in students' homes or in convenient local centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
252 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Education the annual cost per student of school transport since the start of the scheme for those students who must spend more than an hour each way on the journey; if he has given consideration to costing those wasted hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. The approved estimate provision for the running of the school transport scheme for 1991 is £32.434 million as outlined in the Book of Estimates.
My Department have no plans to undertake a cost benefit analysis of replacing some or all of the transport service on the basis outlined by the Deputy.
