Labour raises eyebrows on school transport contract

A Labour government would not be bound by an agreement the government was expected to sign with “a few large” transport operators to provide school transport services, education spokesman Evarist Bartolo warned.

Mr Bartolo said the Labour Party was against the seven-year contract the government was planning to sign because it would stifle competition, lead to a monopoly and sideline small operators.

But the Education Ministry questioned the PL’s motive for raising doubts about a contract, which, it said, had been drafted to “satisfy as far as possible” the Auditor General’s recommendations to offer students the best service.

Mr Bartolo said the Auditor General was asked to monitor the contract’s award process. The ministry said it had no problem with this.

“It is not acceptable that a government with only a few more months in office enters into a contract that binds the Administration that will succeed it,” Mr Bartolo said.

He said it was unacceptable that lack of government planning led it to withdraw a call made in March for a school transport contract.

“It is unacceptable that a contract worth millions of euros is awarded after a simple call for expressions of interest in August in the newspapers that closed even before it officially appeared in the Government Gazette,” Mr Bartolo said.