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Mr. Pollard: Will the Minister enlighten us about the way in which Essex fared in the pecking order for transitional grant?
Mr. Miliband: Much as I should like to give my hon. Friend a full recitation, I cannot do that.
Mr. Pollard: I was trying to help my hon. Friend. Essex came second after Kent, and Hertfordshire came third.
Mr. Miliband: I am sure that all hon. Members are pleased that Essex benefited from the Government's decision to ensure that every LEA has at least a 12 per cent. increase over two years.
The hon. Member for West Chelmsford said that the education formula was fiddled.
Mr. Burns: The Minister must have misunderstood me. I said not that the education formula was fiddled but that the funding formula for the whole of local government was fiddled this year in the way it was changed.
Mr. Miliband: I am happy to accept the hon. Gentleman's statement that he does not believe that the education formula was fiddled. I understand that he is making a wider point about local government funding and that is probably a subject for another debate.
Let me try to end the debate on a more harmonious note. Hon. Members know that the Government launched a document about school transport on
17 September. It offers a way forward for several LEAs, including Essex. The plan set out ways in which walking, cycling and bus use could be extended for journeys to school. The document explained that we were planning to legislate as soon as possible to allow LEAs to trial new approaches to school transport.We envisage enabling legislation which would allow a number of pilot schemes to run for several years, trialling new approaches to school transport. LEAs will be able to charge for school transport, but not to the extent that parents find that the family car is a more cost-effective option. We want LEAs interested in trialling new arrangements to consult their schools, pupils, parents, bus operators and further education colleges on an alternative scheme, along the lines of the new post-16 arrangements that have been discussed in the House on several occasions. Authorities might, for example, design and consult on a scheme that supersedes the statutory walking distances; enter into innovative arrangements with schools or other agencies to provide school transport services fitted around an extended school day; and investigate school transport provision catering for the circumstances of denominational schools.
The primary objective of any local scheme would be to increase the choices available to parents and pupils for ensuring effective home-to-school transport. If we create such flexibilities, we envisage that we would look carefully at the experience of the first few authorities pioneering new arrangements before proceeding further. I hope that Essex county council, along with the schools and parents in the area, will reflect on the opportunities that are presented by the scheme. I hope that when they reflect on the strong statements that have been made on both sides of the Chamber, expressing concern about the proposals that have been made, they will also examine the value-for-money arguments that are important to any decision on the priorities for school spending, and bear in mind the powerful case made by my hon. Friend the Member for Braintree, whose expertise has really helped to enlighten the House today.
6.42 pm
Sitting suspended, pursuant to Order.
7 pm
Question, That this House do now adjourn, put and agreed to.
- Adjourned accordingly at Seven o'clock.
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