Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will amend the Public Services Vehicle Accessibility Regulation to include measures to ensure the provision of audio visual announcements on buses.

The Department for Transport recognises that many people find audio and visual announcements useful when travelling by bus. However, we also understand that this technology comes at a considerable cost, particularly for smaller, local operators.

With this in mind, my Noble Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer, has launched a new schools technology competition, which will seek innovative and cost-effective solutions on how to provide passengers with accessible information during their journey.

We have no plans to amend the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) 2000 to make these systems mandatory.