Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2020 to Question 106463 on Disability: Railways, what the outcome was of the recent discussions between her Department and the Department for Transport on accessibility.

The Government wants to ensure step free access for as many passengers as possible. We are committed to bringing forward vital sector-wide reforms, including to deliver improved accessibility, and commissioned Keith Williams to carry out the first root and branch review of the rail industry in a generation.

The Review was in its final stages at the outbreak of COVID-19. The Government views the purpose of the reforms as important as ever, but further work needs to be done now to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the sector and we continue to examine a range of options to reform the railways.

We will publish a White Paper with details on our plans for rail reform in due course.