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349028

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Taxis: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that taxi and private hire drivers undergo disability awareness training.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
	uin	1458
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2015 answer text <p>Although there is no statutory requirement for Taxi and PHV drivers to undertake disability awareness training, the Department for Transport’s best practice guidance on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing in England and Wales recommends local licensing authorities work with operators, drivers and trade bodies in their area to improve drivers’ awareness of the needs of disabled people. This includes encouraging their drivers to undertake disability awareness training. A separate licensing regime regulates taxi and private hire vehicles in Scotland and the Scottish Government publishes its own Best Practice guidance.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Law Commission recently undertook a wide ranging review of taxi and private hire legislation in England and Wales and published their final report and a draft Bill on 23 May 2014, in which it recommended mandatory disability awareness training for drivers. The Government will respond to the report shortly.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 15/06/2015 14:01:08 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

349029

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Taxis: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on (a) assistance for wheelchair users by taxis and private hire vehicles and (b) the charging of additional costs by taxi and hire vehicle owners; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Zac Goldsmith
	uin	1459
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Transport is committed to ensuring that everyone has the same access to transport services and opportunities to travel.</p><p> </p><p>Both taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) are a particularly valuable form of transport for people with disabilities. I would strongly encourage all Taxi and PHV drivers to assist wheelchair users, wherever possible, and would also strongly discourage the practice of making additional charges to assist a disabled passenger. I would remind all Taxi and PHV operators of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 15/06/2015 14:08:43 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

487110

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2016
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Rolling Stock: North West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what provisions his Department has put in place to improve rolling stock as part of the rail franchise package for the North West.
	tabling member constituency	Hazel Grove
	tabling member printed	William Wragg
	uin	32510
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2016 answer text <p>The new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises commenced on the 1<sup>st</sup> April. By the end of 2019, they will have introduced significant improvements in Rolling Stock.</p><p> </p><p>The Northern franchise will deliver:-</p><ul><li>281 new carriages including 55 new Diesel and 43 new Electric trains – the first ever new trains specified for the Northern franchise</li><li>Additional diesel units cascaded from other franchises – refurbished to ‘as new’ standard</li><li>Removal of all Pacer trains by October 2019</li><li>All retained trains will be refurbished as new including Wi-Fi, media servers, passenger information systems, CCTV and accessible toilets with baby-change facilities</li></ul><p> </p><p>This means that 30% of this expanded fleet will be new and will operate 2000 more services per week –a 12% increase. The additional trains will provide a 37% increase in morning peak capacity into the North’s 5 major cities by December 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The TransPennine franchise will deliver:-</p><ul><li>220 new carriages</li><li>All existing trains will be refurbished as new including Wi-Fi, additional power sockets, and real-time passenger information systems</li></ul><p> </p><p>This means that 70% of fleet is new, the fleet size increases by two-thirds, provides 13million more seats, an 80% increase in morning peak seats by the end of 2019.</p><p><br>These delivery plans as bid by the two operators during the Invitation to Tender process have been contracted within the franchise agreements.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 12/04/2016 15:13:59 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4429 label Biography information for Mr William Wragg

671833

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2017
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Bus Services: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve disability awareness among bus drivers on the use of a ramp when required for disabled passengers.
	tabling member constituency	Colchester
	tabling member printed	Will Quince
	uin	59634
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2017 answer text <p>I am committed to building transport networks that work for everyone, including ensuring that disabled people have the same access to transport services as other members of society.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently developing best practice guidance in delivering disability awareness training. This has been informed by engagement with disabled people and the bus industry, and aims to ensure that bus drivers have the knowledge and skills to provide passengers with the appropriate assistance they need, including the use of ramps for wheelchair users.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 16/01/2017 14:44:26 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4423 label Biography information for Will Quince

671834

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2017
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Taxis: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that there is sufficient provision of accessible taxis for disabled people in rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Colchester
	tabling member printed	Will Quince
	uin	59633
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2017 answer text <p>Taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) provide a particularly important service for many disabled people, helping them to remain independent and to complete journeys which may not be possible using other forms of transport.</p><p> </p><p>I recognise that the availability of wheelchair accessible taxis and PHVs varies across Great Britain, particularly in rural areas. I know too, however, that they can sometimes be difficult to access for some ambulant disabled people. As such we encourage local licensing authorities to use their existing powers to ensure that a range of vehicle categories are represented in their taxi and PHV fleets. We have also introduced powers in the Deregulation Act 2015 to enable the sub-contracting of PHV services across local authority boundaries, helping to ensure that wheelchair accessible vehicles are available wherever they are required.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 16/01/2017 14:39:51 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4423 label Biography information for Will Quince

658594

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2016
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Public Transport: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department issues on the provision of alternative transport services for elderly people when bus services are removed.
	tabling member constituency	Walsall South
	tabling member printed	Valerie Vaz
	uin	57598
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2016 answer text <p>The Department has not issued guidance specifically on the provision of alternative transport services for the elderly when bus services are removed. However, the Department has published draft guidance for local authorities who are considering how to best improve their local bus services, and guidance about the role that can be played by the Community Transport sector and the application of Total Transport principles. This draft guidance was published in October to accompany the Bus Services Bill that is currently before Parliament. A final version of the guidance will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 19/12/2016 11:07:30 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4076 label Biography information for Valerie Vaz

658595

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2016
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Bus Services: Contracts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has power to intervene when bus companies terminate contracts without consultation.
	tabling member constituency	Walsall South
	tabling member printed	Valerie Vaz
	uin	57597
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2016 answer text <p>Bus services in England outside London are provided commercially by bus operators with local authorities able to subsidise additional services where these are not being provided on a commercial basis. The Secretary of State has no power to intervene when bus services cease to be provided by bus operators or supported by local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Bus operators are however required to provide a Traffic Commissioner with 56 days’ notice of their intention to cancel a local bus service, and we would encourage operators and local authorities to consult with local communities before making changes to local bus services.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 19/12/2016 11:02:24 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4076 label Biography information for Valerie Vaz

658597

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2016
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Bus Services: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued on accessibility standards for bus provision.
	tabling member constituency	Walsall South
	tabling member printed	Valerie Vaz
	uin	57604
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2016 answer text <p>I am committed to building transport networks that work for everyone, including ensuring that disabled people have the same access to transport services as other members of society.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance was issued in 2005 to support the implementation of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR).</p><p> </p><p>We are currently developing best practice guidance in delivering disability awareness training. This has be informed by engagement with disabled people and the bus industry, and aims to ensure that bus drivers have the knowledge and skills to provide all passengers with the appropriate assistance.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 19/12/2016 11:18:47 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4076 label Biography information for Valerie Vaz

349943

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Pedestrian Areas: Visual Impairment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has given to local transport authorities on protecting the safety of blind and partially sighted bus users when (a) placing floating bus stops, (b) closing bus stops and (c) placing temporary bus stops.
	tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
	tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
	uin	2152
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Transport (DfT) is committed to comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. An integrated transport policy, which encompasses accessible public transport, public transport infrastructure and a barrier-free pedestrian environment is fundamentally important to delivering that commitment.</p><p> </p><p>Provisions in the Equality Act 2010 require service providers, such as local authorities, to take reasonable steps to ensure that disabled people do not find it unreasonably difficult to enjoy a service on the same basis as non-disabled people.</p><p> </p><p>The DfT has not provided any guidance on protecting the safety of blind and partially sighted bus users when placing floating bus stops or when specifically closing bus stops or placing temporary bus stops.</p><p> </p><p>However, our document ‘Safety at Street Works and Road Works’ (a statutory code of practice for utility companies and local highways authorities in England) provides general principles to observe when considering the needs of vulnerable users. It is the responsibility of local authorities to apply these general principles to any works they carry out in the highway, including work on bus stops.</p><p> </p><p>The code of practice is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-at-street-works-and-road-works" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-at-street-works-and-road-works</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 16/06/2015 14:40:20 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

349944

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Buses: Visual Impairment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will encourage the installation of artificial sound generators on quiet electric and hybrid-electric buses in London to ensure their audibility for the safety of blind and partially-sighted pedestrians.
	tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
	tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
	uin	2203
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2015 answer text <p>A new EU regulation dealing with noise from road vehicles was adopted in 2014 and this will require additional sound devices to be fitted to all new types of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles from July 2019. This includes new buses and manufacturers may choose to fit them sooner. There are no plans currently to require the devices to be fitted before July 2019. Whether to encourage their fitment in London is a matter for the Mayor of London.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 16/06/2015 14:45:00 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq