How does the Minister plan to ensure safeguarding for students on public transport, given the Welsh Government's intention to roll school transport into the scheduled bus service through the Bus Bill?
The safeguarding of learners/students is of paramount importance.
In some parts of Wales, learners eligible for school transport services already travel on existing registered local bus services.
These learners are protected by ensuring that bus drivers used to drive such services are rigorously checked through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as ensuring that the vehicles used have fully functioning CCTV equipment.
As a part of our on-going discussions and planning for franchising we will also be considering other options available that will further support the safeguarding of learners and students beyond that described above.