Steve and Liz Fitzgerald, whose daughter Claire was one of 13 people to die in the M40 minibus crash on 18 November 1993, have called for an end to the award of contracts for children’s travel to charities and voluntary groups that they say are “massive commercial enterprises.”
Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald criticised the fact that no steps have been taken to curb the practice, which they say poses safety risks.
Their comments came one day before a Judicial Review brought by the Bus and Coach Association (BCA) into the interpretation of what is commercial and non-commercial.
“Everyone is aware how short of cash local authorities are. The government needs to acknowledge that,” says BUSK Director Pat Harris (pictured). She describes the government’s failure to address the issue as “an abuse of process.”