FREE SCHOOL BUS TRAVEL IN GLASGOW

That this House is deeply concerned at proposals to alter the qualifying distance for free bus travel by primary and secondary school children in Glasgow; understands that this will be implemented by the Labour-led City Council in August 2015 without any meaningful consultation with parents or communities, and that this will reduce free transport provision in the city from 3,214 qualifying children to just 1,383 children; notes that these cuts will impact detrimentally on families across the city, with areas such as Maryhill and Milton in the north of the city being disproportionately impacted, in part due to the City Council's previous school closure programmes which targeted the Maryhill area including the closure of St Agnes', Wyndford and St Gregory's primary schools; shares the belief of many parents that previous promises by the City Council which were made when schools were closed in recent years are now being reneged upon; shares the concerns of parents and communities that safe walking routes will still place children at additional risk, and that increased travel times may put at risk the attendance of children at school and increase the travel costs for families in deprived areas who see no alternative but to pay for commercial bus transport; and believes that the City Council should halt the plans to axe the free school bus provision and start a meaningful and respectful dialogue with parents, children and communities should it decide at any point in the future to reform free school transport arrangements within the city.