Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage local authorities to improve disability accessibility on transport services which they provide.

The government is committed to delivering a transport network which allows disabled people to be able to travel easily and confidently, with dignity and without extra cost. The government expects local authorities and transport operators to make sure this happens, consistent with their legal equalities duties.

On 17th December, the government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill that will give local leaders in England the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including for disabled people. The Bill includes measures to make the design of bus and coach stations and stops safer and more accessible and sets requirements on training for staff on disability-assistance and disability awareness to ensure bus drivers and staff dealing directly with the travelling public are better informed of the rights and needs of disabled passengers.

The Bill has also been amended so it now provides duties to consult disabled people, to consider the impact of Enhanced Partnership (EP) scheme requirements on accessibility, and to publish Bus Network Accessibility Plans, as well as clarifying that EP scheme requirements can include requirements aiming to improve accessibility.