Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on extending the validity period for Disabled Persons Railcard holders to compensate them for lack of access to rail services during the covid-19 outbreak; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the Rail Delivery Group tackles that issue.

The Disabled Persons Railcard is sold and managed by the Rail Delivery Group on behalf on the rail industry. Therefore, any proposals for amending existing Railcard policies are for the Rail Delivery Group to bring forward.

The Rail Delivery Group is working with train companies on a number of ways to assist Railcard holders, in light of the current COVID-19 related travel restrictions.

Departmental officials have been engaging regularly with the Rail Delivery Group as it considers possible changes to Railcard conditions.