Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional resources his Department has made available to improve enforcement action on bus operators to monitor compliance with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations.

The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) have prompted a step-change in the accessibility of buses and coaches over the past sixteen years, and it is essential that the high levels of accessibility which disabled passengers now expect are maintained.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) enforces PSVAR on behalf of DfT, with £100,000 allocated to PSVAR-related enforcement activity.

DVSA inspects vehicles prior to their use on local and scheduled services, and conducts targeted enforcement activity at the roadside to identify non-compliance.

The Department continues to work with DVSA to incentivise compliance and to improve the identification of non-compliant vehicles.