HC Deb 16 June 2003 vol 407 cc24-5W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans his Department has made for the implementation of accessibility planning promoted in the Special Exclusion Unit's report 'Making the Connections: Transport and Social Exclusion'; and what funding his Department has allocated to local authorities for this purpose; [119133]

(2) what the (a) remit, (b) membership and (c) timetable is of the working group set up to examine accessibility, auditing and planning referred to in paragraph 5.33 of the Social Exclusion Unit's report 'Making the Connections: Transport and Social Exclusion'. [119137]

Mr. Jamieson

The remit of the Central-Local Working Group on Accessibility Planning is to develop, pilot and evaluate aspects of the accessibility planning process and to share good practice. The group comprises representatives from the Department for Transport, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Local Government Association, Association of Transport Coordinating Officers and Passenger Transport Executive Group. It also includes authorities that have been recognised for work of particular relevance to accessibility planning through the Beacon Council and Centres of Excellence initiatives and authorities that are piloting accessibility planning as part of the Department's research programme.

The working group has met three times since publication of the SEU report in February 2003. It has agreed a forward work programme to inform departmental guidance to transport authorities on accessibility planning, to be published next year. Authorities preparing second Local Transport Plans (due in 2005) will be asked to lead accessibility planning and incorporate it into their next LTPs.

No additional funding has been provided for this work. The intention of accessibility planning is to ensure that existing funding, for transport, other services and regeneration, is used more effectively to make it easier for people to get access to jobs and key services.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the dissemination of the findings of the Social Exclusion Unit's February 2003 report, "Making Connections: Transport and Social Exclusion"(a) to local authorities and (b) to other transport providers, including private operators; and if he will make a statement. [119134]

Mr. Jamieson

The "Making the Connections" report was widely disseminated. Approximately 4,000 copies were sent out via post and email to those involved in the consultation and to other interested parties. Copies were sent to every local authority (including Shire Districts, where appropriate) in England—a copy to the Chief Executive and one to the person responsible for local transport planning (where appropriate)—well as to all the members of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, which includes private operators. The report is also being sent to all local strategic partnerships.

Ministers and officials have spoken at a wide range of events across the country which encompassed all sectors, such as transport planners, bus users, bus operators, community transport providers and the Local Government Association.