§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on what his Department is doing to ensure that the UK transport network is accessible to those with(a) mobility problems and (b) other disabilities. [16426]
§ Ms KeebleWe are committed to providing an accessible public transport system in which people with a wide range of disabilities will have the same opportunities to travel as everyone else. Accessibility regulations for new trains, buses and coaches have been introduced under Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Part III of the Act requires public transport infrastructure to be accessible to disabled people. From 2004 this will include the removal of physical barriers to access.
The 10 Year Transport Plan introduced a new commitment to ensuring that access for disabled people is a condition of all new public investment in transport.