§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that British Rail continues to make provision for disabled people in the event of sale into private ownership.
§ Mr. PortilloNo decisions have yet been taken on rail privatisation but if privatisation did proceed we would certainly wish to consider how best to safeguard the particular interests of disabled people.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that road pricing or toll schemes which are introduced will exempt disabled motorists who have to travel by road.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Government have no proposals for road pricing. There is a variety of
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§ The Attorney-GeneralThe information requested is set out in the table:
arrangements on existing tolled facilities. As for new privately financed toll roads, the Green Paper "New Roads by New Means" sought views on the extent which tolls should be controlled. We are currently assessing the comments received on the Green Paper.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to ensure that coaches and buses are made accessible to all disabled people.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Department of Transport has been working closely with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee to develop design guidelines to make buses easier for elderly and ambulant disabled people to use. These improvements are now being widely adopted by manufacturers, operators and local authorities.
The Department is also working with other European Community countries towards changes in regulations that will require future generations of buses and coaches to be fully accessible to people with disabilities.