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Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner has slammed ministers over plans to spend £20million on taxis to take children up to 15 miles to the nearest grammar schools .

The government had previously cut a larger amount from the school transport budget that had supported a far larger number of pupils to get to school by bus.

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced £5million per year – £20million over the Parliament – in the Budget to provide transport for pupils to the nearest grammar school, up to a limit of 15 miles from their home.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

But the Government has now admitted that only around 1,000-1,500 pupils stand to benefit, meaning the cost per pupil will be £3,000 to £5,000 a year.

Meanwhile the grant supporting councils in providing school transport, usually buses, was cut by £6million a year from 2015-16.

Those cuts led to concerns that disabled teenagers no longer had a right to help getting to sixth form or college, pupils being forced to move school, and families being charged hundreds of pounds extra.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

(Image: PA)

The Local Government Ombudsman said last week they had received a 63 per cent increase in serious cases relating to school transport.

Mrs Rayner said: “Mrs Rayner said: “The local school bus is now being replaced by the grammar school Uber. But when they are breaking their promise to protect schools funding and heads are facing the worst cuts in a generation, it’s unbelievable that they think cash for cabs is a good use of money.

"While we’re paying taxes for their taxis, disabled teenagers are being left to fend for themselves and other kids are forced to change school for lack of transport. It doesn’t make any sense to spend five grand each ferrying a tiny number of pupils.”