HC Deb 16 March 2000 vol 346 cc336-7W
Mr. Moore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the exemptions granted to date under the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; and if he will make a statement. [114813]

Mr. Hill

The following exemptions from the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 (RVAR), have been authorised by the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 47 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995:

  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Midland Metro T69 Vehicles) Exemption Order 1999, SI 520/1999;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Midland Metro T69 Vehicles) (Exemption No.2) Exemption Order 1999, SI 1256/1999;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (LTS Rail Class 357 Vehicles) Exemption Order 1999, SI 1448/1999;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Anglia Railways Class 170/2 Vehicles) Exemption Order 1999, SI 1931/1999;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Central Trains Class 170/5 Vehicles) Exemption Order 1999, SI 1932/1999;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (South West Trains Class 458 Vehicles) Exemption Order 1999, SI 2404/1999;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (ScotRail Class 170/4 Vehicles) Exemption Order 1999, SI 2547/1999;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Serco Metrolink T68A Vehicles) Exemption Order 1999, SI 2932/1999;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Croydon Tramlink Class CR400 Vehicles) Exemption Order 2000, SI 6/2000;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (LTS Rail Class 357 Vehicles) Exemption Order 2000, SI No. 182/2000;
  • The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (North Western Trains Class 175/0 and Class 175/1 Vehicles) Exemption Order 2000, SI 524/2000.

Before authorising any exemptions we consult our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC). Many of the exemptions are for relatively minor non compliances and most have been time limited and we expect vehicles to eventually be modified to bring them to full compliance. All exemptions authorised to date have arisen due to the vehicles being designed before the RVAR where finalised.

We are working closely with operators and manufacturers to ensure that all new vehicles ordered since the RVAR came into force fully comply with the Regulations. However, there is likely to be a requirement for a small number of exemptions to continue to be authorised to cover exceptional circumstances, for example, on railways where the infrastructure limits the physical size of vehicles.