§ 37. Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the provision of transport for the disabled in the Strathclyde region since deregulation.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI understand that Strathclyde passenger transport executive, on behalf of the regional council, last year carried out a review of dial-a-bus services for the mobility handicapped within the Glasgow area. As a result of the review an extension of the concept of door-to-door dial-a-bus services was recommended and the council has now approved changes in the style and scope of the service.
The extended network, which is subsidised by the council, will start on 1 February in the following operating areas:
- Glasgow North West
- Glasgow North East
- Glasgow South East
- Glasgow South West
- Hamilton/East Kilbride
- Renfrew
- Clydesdale
I understand that there are, in addition, three community transport schemes operated by the voluntary sector which provide transport for the mobility handicapped within the conurbation.