Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the decision to postpone the implementation of the driver training elements of EU regulation No. 181/2011 for up to four years.

My Noble Friend Baroness Kramer, Minister for Local Transport has recently completed a review of the use of a derogation applied under EU Regulation 181/2011 (concerning bus and coach passenger rights) exempting bus and coach drivers from undertaking mandatory disability awareness training.

To inform this review, she wrote to bus industry representatives, disability stakeholders and charities seeking their input, to determine whether drivers are receiving adequate disability awareness training under the current voluntary arrangement.

Having received and considered many comprehensive responses, the findings have been shared with Ministerial colleagues who are discussing how best to proceed.

While these discussions continue, officials will place a summary of all responses received in relation to the review on the Government’s website as a matter of priority.