§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that the provision of low-floor buses is included in the consultations his Department is having with the European Commission Directorate-General III on its draft directive on special provisions for buses and coaches.
§ Mr. FreemanThe United Kingdom has proposed amendments to the Commission draft which are a significant improvement in terms of first step height and technical requirements and which, if adopted, will improve accessibility. Discussions are continuing.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives he is considering for private operators in the deregulated bus industry to provide access for disabled people on public transport routes.
§ Mr. FreemanMy Department has funded a low-floor bus demonstration project in north Tyneside. A similar, but larger, project funded by London Transport was launched on 11 January. Both schemes are being monitored by my Department and the results will be made available to operators to help them assess the costs and benefits of such vehicles.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place within his Department and with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Northern Ireland Office regarding the development of the full potential of the United Kingdom's lead in low-floor bus technology.
§ Mr. FreemanMy Department has worked closely with the manufacturers on design features for low-floor buses.