Committee publishes report on draft legislation to improve safety on school transport
The Assembly’s Enterprise and Learning Committee has today published its report into the Government’s Draft Learner Travel (Wales) Measure. This draft legislation aims to improve travel to education by clarifying the current law in Wales, strengthening protocols for good behaviour and proper discipline on school buses and providing free transport for more primary school children.
The Committee has carried out a scrutiny inquiry of the draft measure issued for consultation by the Welsh Government. It took evidence from a number of key stakeholders including education bodies, the Children’s Commissioner, transport pressure groups such as Busk, transport providers, local government and the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Committee found that a clear consensus exists across the board that the scope of the draft Measure is too limited (because the Assembly’s legislative competence is too limited) and further powers should be sought from Westminster. The Committee welcomes the Deputy First Minister’s undertaking to seek those powers but may consider bringing forward an LCO of its own in this area.
The report also makes a number of recommendations relating to the proposed Code of Conduct for pupils using school transport, and ensuring that looked after children are properly covered by the proposed legislation.
Gareth Jones AM, Chair of the Committee, said: “We have carried out a wide-ranging scrutiny inquiry on this draft measure, and I would urge the Welsh Government to look carefully at the recommendations in our report.”