ST HELENS Council has responded to claims that a statement it issued a fortnight ago on school bus contracts amounted to cheap "political point scoring".

Local Lib Dem leader Brian Spencer demanded the council retract a statement about the awarding of the school's bus contract, which he said was misleading and issued without his knowledge. The statement had been made in response to comments made by Lib Dem town centre member, Cllr John Beirne who was unhappy at the award of the bus contract.

Cllr Spencer believes the response gave the impression the bus contract was awarded after being examined by the Scrutiny Committee, which he chairs. In fact the matter was decided by council officers under delegated powers.

Following Cllr Spencer's allegations, a St Helens Council statement read: "The Council was responding to a statement made to the press (by Cllr Beirne) which misled some parents who then contacted the authority seeking clarification.

"Our response was an attempt to set the record straight and to reassure the public that the school transport contract met all health and safety requirements. There was certainly no political motive behind the statement."