§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had, and with whom, to seek to improve travelling conditions in motor coaches for disabled people. [23800]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Department has held extensive informal discussions, both with their statutory advisers on disability, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) and with representatives of both manufacturing and operating industries. On the basis of these preliminary discussions, we published on 19 December, for widespread public consultation, our proposals for making both buses and coaches accessible to disabled people in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act. Twelve thousand copies of the consultation document have been issued to disability organisations and other consumer groups as well as to all bus and coach operators and manufacturers. The consultation document has been placed in the House Library.