HC Deb 22 February 1999 vol 326 cc55-6W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve access for disabled people to London Underground services. [70726]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The Government are committed to a fully accessible public transport system. However, full accessibility cannot happen overnight, especially on London Underground, where most of the stations are old and not designed with access for mobility impaired people in mind.

London Transport has been developing a scheme to improve access to a core of 68 Underground stations and plans shortly to consult the Disabled Peoples Transport Advisory Committee, London Boroughs and local disability groups about these plans.

The Jubilee line extension will be fully accessible and will mean that wheelchair users will be able to travel from mainline stations at Waterloo, Stratford and London Bridge stations to the Millennium Exhibition at North Greenwich.