§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 533W, on the needs of disabled passengers in train operating company franchises, on what date he expects the revised code of practice to be published; what representations (a) his Department and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority have received regarding the modification of this code of practice; and whether train operating companies will also be expected to modify provisions for the disabled through the franchise agreement process. [32414]
§ Mr. SpellarThe revised code of practice was published on 6 February. The Strategic Rail Authority consulted widely on the content of the revised code, including such bodies as DPTAC, the DRC, and the railway industry. Over 200 responses were received.
All licensed operators on the national rail network are required to review their Disabled Peoples Protection Policies (DPPPs) to reflect the revised code. Enforcement of these revised DPPPs will be through licence conditions rather than franchise agreements, though having appropriate licences is a condition precedent of entering into a franchise agreement.