§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it a requirement in law to provide visual information inside and outside buses, tubes and coaches to assist deaf people travelling; and for what reasons he is proposing a voluntary code. [34840]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 18 March 1998]: We will shortly be publishing the draft Disability Discrimination Act Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations which will require all new trains, including those used on the London Underground, to be fitted with internal and external visual information systems.
We are still consulting on our proposals for Buses and Coaches but, subject to the views expressed in response to the consultation I propose that the draft regulations for 697W PSVs should require all new buses and coaches used on scheduled services to be fitted with internal and external visual information systems.