Bullying (Schools)

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 3:59 pm on 16 June 2010.

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Photo of Edward Timpson Edward Timpson Conservative, Crewe and Nantwich 3:59, 16 June 2010

The incident of bullying on a school bus that the hon. Lady describes is tragic, but, sadly, it is not an isolated one. I had a constituent whose son was the only child on the school bus who, because he was outside the catchment area, had to pay for the travel, so he always had to be last on to the bus. He was bullied as a result, and the parents had to withdraw him from the school. Does she agree that the role that the bus companies play in the strategy for dealing with bullying must be much more prominent when the local authority provides guidelines and contracts for how the bus companies go about their business?