RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has stepped up his Commons campaign over Lancashire County Council's decision to bus the children of his constituents miles to school.

He is horrified that children from Clitheroe and surrounding villages are being forced to go to Accrington for classes because local schools are full.

Earlier this week he fulfilled his promise to parents to raise the matter at Westminster by tackling transport minister John Reid on the issue during Commons questions.

And now the Tory has asked leader of the Commons Margaret Beckett for a special debate on the issue.

Mr Evans told her: "Across the country, it is a time of year when parents are learning whether their youngsters will be able to go to certain schools. More than 50 parents in Clitheroe have been told that their children will not be able to go to Ribblesdale School, and that all the other local schools are full. "They are now being told that their youngsters will have to be bused many miles out of their area to get a decent education.

"I cannot believe that Clitheroe is unique in that experience. In this day and age, surely it cannot be right for youngsters to be asked to get up at 6.30am to travel many miles outside their local education authority area to get a decent education."

Mrs Beckett, who didn't agree to a debate, made clear that while she was concerned about the problem it was not the government's responsibility.

She said the problem came from the Tories' attempt to persuade parents they could always send their child to the school of their choice but that the Labour government had in two years made money available to find an extra 12,000 places at popular schools nationwide.

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