§ 29. Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to improve access for disabled people to transport services. [112201]
§ Mr. HillThe Government are committed to comprehensive civil "right"s for disabled people. Accessible public transport, within the framework of an integrated transport policy, is fundamentally important to delivering that commitment.
We have already brought forward regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act setting detailed technical access standards for all new trains. This year we will be bringing forward similar regulations applying to buses and coaches and we will be consulting on proposed regulations applying to buses and coaches and we will be consulting on proposed regulations for taxis. These regulations cover facilities for wheelchair users and for people with a wide range of other disabilities.
Through the Local Transport Plans we are also ensuring that local authorities give due weight to the needs of disabled people across the whole spectrum of their responsibilities, including pedestrian facilities, transport infrastructure and voluntary and community transport services.