§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tony McNulty)The Government today published a consultation paper on its proposals to amend the rail provisions in Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA). The consultation period will end on Monday 26 January 2004.
Amending the rail provisions of the DDA was one of the recommendations made by the Disability Rights Task Force (DRTF) in their report "From Exclusion to Inclusion". The Government have accepted the DRTF's recommendations on transport. This consultation process fulfils the commitment to take forward the recommendations for the introduction of an end date by which all rail vehicles must comply with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 and regulations covering the refurbishment of rail vehicles.
The consultation also takes the opportunity to invite views on a number of associated issues that affect the operation of the rail provisions of the Act. These additional issues, which include changes to the enforcement regime and the removal of the requirement for exemptions to be granted via statutory instrument, were not covered in the DRTF report.
As rail services are not devolved, this consultation will cover England, Scotland and Wales.
Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.