MINISTERS said they may reconsider rules around school transport after Ribble Valley’s MP claimed new charges imposed by Lancashire County Council were ‘discriminatory’.

From next year, the council is set to increase the annual bus pass charge for children who do not attend their nearest secondary school to £475, up from £380.

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This has sparked anger from dozens of parents who feel they will be unfairly penalised for sending their child to a faith school, and MP Nigel Evans raised the issue in a House of Commons debate this week.

He asked education secretary Nicky Morgan: “Parents with youngsters who happen to live in Clitheroe and want to send them to a Catholic school have to pass a non-faith-based comprehensive on the way.

“Therefore, the local authority will not give them any assistance with school transport. This is a hideous form of discrimination that ends up giving parents a huge bill at the end of the year, particularly those with two or three youngsters. What can be done to make the choice more effective without clobbering parents?”

Mr Morgan replied: “Although local authorities must have regard to parents’ wishes to have their children educated in a school based on religion or belief, there is no statutory duty to require them to provide free transport to that school.

“Suitable in this context means providing education appropriate to age and, where relevant, any special educational needs a child may have. I understand the frustrations of parents and will perhaps look at this again.”

One example that has been raised is the journey from Chipping to Longridge, where pupils travelling to Longridge High will be funded, and those going to St Cecilia’s Roman Catholic High School will have to pay, despite the schools being less than half a mile apart. Mr Evans said the council had even refused for pupils to be funded to Longridge High School and walk the rest of the way.

Matthew Tomlinson, education boss at LCC, said he ‘absolutely supported’ parents’ right to choose the most appropriate school for their children, but said the council could not continue to subsidise bus travel to schools not the closest to where they live. He said the council was struggling to find savings of £300m by 2017.