Written question WQ86153
- Asked by
- Adam PricePlaid
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
Will the Minister consider updating the All Wales Transport Policy to reflect protection and safety for children who must walk to a school bus site (as is the case for many pupils in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr), as well as the current consideration for those walking to school?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change
In accordance with the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure, walked routes from home to school for learners not eligible for dedicated home to school transport remains the responsibility of local authorities to assess. School transport will only be provided to such learners if these routes are not deemed a safe option.
Protection and safety of learners between their home and the bus stop remains the responsibility of the parents or guardians. When learners are transported, local authorities have responsibility for ensuring that relevant safeguarding processes are adhered to in line with Keeping Learners Safe and that risk assessments are undertaken where appropriate.
However, we are now taking forward a wider programme of work that encompasses consideration of a complete revision of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure. As a part of this work officials will be seeking a wide range of views from stakeholders as this work progresses.
All journeys between home and bus stops for learners will also be safer in many areas in the future, due to legislation passed in the Senedd in July to reduce the national default speed limit on roads with street lighting from 30mph to 20mph, from September 2023.