In a message dated 29/10/03 17:13:48 GMT Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< I have a different view on this....
These students have to use their cars due to disability and have to incur
these travel
costs because they are travelling to their studies.
I assume that if the students did not have a disability they would be able
to get public
transport. It would therefore be reasonable for the LEA to look at the cost
of the trip
by public transport and take this amount off the costs the students actually
incur in
travelling to study. >>
I don't think it is a different view. The problem is, what is the cost to
this student? £8 or £10 for petrol? I doubt if one could travel 90 miles by
public transport for less than this? Therefore travel by car is cheaper if there
are no purchase and other running costs as would be the case with a car provided
by motability.
As I said I would recommend paying if there were extra costs but it is not
clear that there are. I do often recommend paying the extra cost of travel by
taxi if a student does not drive and can't use public transport.
In this case I can't see any extra cost and it is possible that the student
could actually be financially better off (or rather spending less) than their
peers travelling a similar distance by car or public transport.
Mick Trott
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