Assembly Committee says yes to belt-up powers for the school bus

2 February 2010

The National Assembly for Wales should be able to require, by law (Assembly Measure), local authorities to only use home to school transport, which conforms to the highest safety standards.

That’s the view of the Assembly’s Legislation Committee No.3 which has backed the Proposed National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) Transport Order.

It would allow the Assembly to insist on the use of single decked vehicles fitted with seatbelts and CCTV on all school transport contracted by local Authorities.

However, it would not apply to those public bus routes used by children on school days.

“Although legislative competence has already been devolved to the National Assembly for Wales in relation to school travel, it does not cover the use, construction and equipment contained on school buses,” said Committee Chair, Dai Lloyd AM.

“This Order would allow the Assembly to introduce a new Measure that could require local authorities to only use single deck vehicles that are fitted with seatbelts and CCTV.

“We, as a committee, believe this will enable the National Assembly to deliver the highest standards of safety on many of the vehicles that take our children to school every day.”

The order will also enable the Assembly to legislate in order change the system of how bus and train operators are reimbursed for concessionary fare schemes.

At present local authorities are directly reimbursed, for the full cost, by the Welsh Government. The committee heard evidence that this system failed to build in “sufficient incentives to control costs”.

The order would allow the responsibility for negotiating the cost of concessionary schemes to be transferred to the Welsh Government.

Legislation Committee No.3

(Legislative Competence) (Transport) Order 2010 - Committee Report January 2010