| answer text |
<p>There are currently no immediate plans to review the travel subsidy for schools
visiting the House. The next scheduled review is to follow after the conclusion of
the boundary review (the banding of the subsidy is based on constituencies).</p><p>Prior
to the introduction of the subsidy 69.4% of visiting schools came from London and
the South East (Band A), where in the financial year 2015/2016 this fell to 49% from
that band.</p><p>When deciding the current levels of transport subsidies several different
factors were taken into account, which included considerations around distance and
reasonable spend, as well as the overall budget available to Parliament to offer the
subsidy. The overarching aim of the scheme is to encourage as many schools as possible
from outside of the south east England region to attend.</p><p>The levels of transport
subsidies are set by the Administration Committee. The Committee agreed to raise the
levels in line with transport inflation in March 2013, and continues to keep them
under review in order to make the subsidy as beneficial as possible, especially to
schools from further afield.</p>
|
|
