Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the rail industry's preparedness for all UK rolling stock to be compliant with the Persons of Reduced Mobility Technical Specification for Interoperability by 31 December 2019.

This Government recognises how important improving access to public transport is for disabled people and is committed to making transport more inclusive. However, it is the responsibility of the rolling stock operator to ensure its trains meet modern accessibility standards by 31 December 2019, including the Persons of Reduced Mobility Technical Specification for Interoperability. The Department is liaising regularly with the industry on the progress being made on upgrading stock built before 1999 and currently 70% of all trains in operation were either built to or have been refurbished to meet accessibility standards.