KEETCH CALLS FOR CLARIFICATION FROM COUNCIL ON SCHOOL BUS ROW

4.52.30pm GMT Mon 10th Jan 2005

Hereford's MP, Paul Keetch, has welcomed what appears to be a potential U-turn by Tory-led Herefordshire Council on the row about school transport.

In his response to Mr Keetch raising the issue during the School Transport Bill debate in the Commons, Education Chief, Cllr Don Rule, said that Mr Keetch's intervention "may mean that the Cabinet will have to look very closely" at its policy. Mr Rule also accused Mr Keetch of "seeking to introduce party politics" into the row.

Paul Keetch met several parents from Ross on Wye on Saturday whose children have been affected by this issue.

"I am glad that Don Rule believes that my intervention will force the Council to look closely at this issue - one wonders why they didn't do that before", said Mr Keetch.

"As for accusing me of being party political, if an MP can't raise the issue of cuts in school transport in his constituency during a debate on the School Transport Bill, then I am not sure what Mr Rule expects me to do.

"It is precisely this that my constituents would expect me to do - it's what I'm paid for."

Mr Keetch has written today to Mr Rule asking when the Cabinet will look again at this issue. He has also passed Mr Rule's comments on to the Minister concerned, Stephen Twigg.

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