Updated: Ministry requests investigation of school transport costs

(Adds MLP reaction)

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has asked the Competition Office to investigate complaints of steep increases in the fees for school transport.

The Finance Ministry said the minister had noted complaints about transport costs made in the media over recent days.

Transport operators have argued that prices have had to rise because of higher diesel costs and a requirement that all school children have to wear a seatbelt, meaning that small children cannot share seats. Some van owners said they had to actually fit the seat belts.

The minister five months ago also requested an inquiry on the cost of school uniforms, books, and stationery. The outcome is still pending.

In his reaction to this inquiry, the Labour Party’s spokeman for education, Evarist Bartolo said that it had been known for months that the cost of school transport was to increase by at least 15 per cent because of rise in the cost of oil and other security measures which had to be taken by minibuses.

So it was ridiculous that it was only now, when the prices had actually increased, that the Finance minister requested the Office of Fair Competition to investigate.

This office had not even concluded the investigation on school uniforms which had to be over before the start of the scholastic year.

This showed that the government was insensitive to the financial difficulties being faced by parents in several sectors.