Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all public-facing transport staff receive disability awareness training.

The Department for Transport is committed to building transport networks that work for everyone, including ensuring disabled people have the same access to transport services as everybody else. This includes ensuring that appropriate training is provided for those in public-facing roles.

The precise requirements vary from one transport mode to another. On the railways, by virtue of their operating licence, all train operators are required to provide disability awareness training to all their frontline staff.

On buses, disability awareness training will become mandatory for all bus drivers from March 2018 onwards and we will support the bus industry and training accreditors to implement it, ensuring drivers have the skills and knowledge to provide passengers with appropriate assistance.

In aviation, Article 11 of the Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 requires both airports and air carriers to provide disability-equality and disability-awareness training to all staff who work at the airport and deal with the travelling public. Compliance to the Regulation is monitored by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

In the maritime sector, ship owners and port terminal operators are required to train staff to a high level so they are able to assist and support disabled passengers. Training includes awareness, assisting those with impaired vision and helping those with assistance dogs. The requirements are enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) acting in its capacity as the National Enforcement Body.