§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there is a further exemption order for the fleet of new trains to be introduced524W into service by LTS Trains Ltd. in respect of any of the provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; and if he will make a statement. [108367]
§ Mr. HillAs my predecessor explained in her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) on 26 May 1999,Official Report, column 174W, following an application by LTS Rail Ltd., an Order relating to the exemption of Class 357 trains was laid in Parliament. The Order subsequently came into force on 18 June 1999.
We have received a further application from LTS Trains Ltd. relating to Class 357 trains. This seeks to revoke the original Order and replace it with a new Order to extend the original exemptions to additional vehicles and add new exemptions. This has been discussed with our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.
An exemption Order relating to the exemption of the Class 357 trains has been laid in Parliament today. Copies are available from the Library.
These further exemptions will not prevent disabled people from using the new trains. Indeed, we believe that their introduction will make a significant contribution to improving mobility opportunities for disabled people.