[MargaretR]

One lucrative part of bus company financing is derived from contracts to ferry children to and from sessions to the swimming baths. Competition for winning a tender is fierce and no doubt there are some 'back handers' flying around when the winning company is decided on.

I have no personal knowledge of corruption happening, but in the climate of greed we live in, it likely happens.

Capitalism = greed, at the expense of plebs (us).
Privatisation = no one has the incentive to fiddle.