Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Labour Councillors cut school transport, and the Welsh First Minister attempts to forget the last 26 years

Rhondda Cynon Taf Labour councillors voted to cut school transport, which is typical of Labour in RCT. This is another vote loser for Labour, along with taking our bins away. The Labour councillors had a choice: to do the right thing for the kids or to follow the party line, as they always do. Wales’ First Minister Eluned Morgan attempts to distance Welsh Labour from London, bit late after running Wales into the ground for the last 26 years, it’s time for change.

As of July 2024, there has not been a specific vote in the Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) on a standalone bill titled or directly focused on “Providing free school transport for eligible pupils based on age, distance from school, and other factors.”

However, this policy area falls under the broader responsibility of the Welsh Government , particularly the Minister for Education and Welsh Language , and is governed by existing legislation and guidance rather than a specific bill passed by the Senedd.

Background:

The provision of free school transport in Wales is guided by:

The Education Act 1996
The School Standards and Framework Act 1998
Welsh Government guidance , including the School Transport Code of Guidance (last updated in 2022)

These documents outline that local authorities must provide free transport to eligible pupils, typically based on:

Distance from home to school (usually over 2 miles for primary and 3 miles for secondary)
Age of the child
Whether the route is considered safe
Socioeconomic factors or special educational needs

Recent Developments and Votes:

There have been motions and debates in the Senedd about school transport policy, especially concerning proposals to change eligibility criteria . For example:

In 2022 , some local authorities proposed reducing the distance thresholds for free transport, which led to public concern and Senedd debates .
In March 2023 , a Senedd debate was held on school transport, but it was not a binding vote—it was an opportunity for Members (MSs) to express views.
There have been calls from opposition parties (e.g., Plaid Cymru, Welsh Conservatives) for the Welsh Government to guarantee free transport for all eligible students, but no formal legislative vote has taken place on such a proposal.

Summary:

There has been no recorded vote in the Senedd on a specific bill or measure titled “Providing free school transport for eligible pupils based on age, distance from school, and other factors.”

Instead, the policy is shaped through:

Petition Review and update Provisions 2-10 of The Learner Travel Measure (Wales) 2008.

https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/home-to-school-transport-a-guide-for-constituents

Welsh First Minister attempts to forget the last 26 years as the Labour First Minister says she will ‘call out’ Starmer.