"Unless transport is laid on, they can't go as they can't get home," said Andrew Brown, co-ordinator of the Forum for Rural Children and Young People.
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport met last week to discuss the draft Transport Bill, to be published in March. It contains plans for up to 20 councils to pilot projects for school travel, which will allow them to charge "those who can afford to pay". Amounts of 200 a year have been suggested.
"The statutory entitlement is rigid, and doesn't consider ability to pay or how safe it is to walk to school," said a spokeswoman. "We support anything that gives councils more flexibility."
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