Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether local authorities will be able to bid for resources from the Department for Transport's Access Fund for Sustainable Travel to support or develop Wheels 2 Work schemes within their areas.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Department for Transport welcomes applications to the Access Fund from local transport authorities in England (except London) that support or develop Wheels 2 Work schemes in their area which increase cycling and improve access to work, skills, education or training.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for identifying Class 3 Mobility Scooters, which currently have to display a nil value disc, once the paper Vehicle Access Duty tax disc is abolished from 1 October.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The vehicle tax disc is not used to identify Class 3 mobility vehicles. These vehicles are indentified according to their construction, weight and speed and are required to be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The abolition of the tax disc in October should not affect the current identification of these vehicles.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements local authorities will have in place, following the abolition of the paper Vehicle Access Duty tax disc from 1 October, to check the status of a vehicle parked in a bay or location authorised only for use by a disabled driver.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
It is for individual local authorities to decide how to establish the licensing status of vehicles parked in areas restricted to disabled drivers following the abolition of the vehicle tax disc.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has liaised with local authorities about the abolition of the tax disc and provided a broad range of information to help inform their customers. A specific email address has been established to deal with any queries from local authorities and a workshop has been organised for 2 July.
The DVLA has also enhanced its online vehicle enquiry system, which now includes information about the taxation class of a vehicle.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what they are doing to ensure greater take-up of insurance cover by mobility scooter users, and to encourage more training in the use of scooters.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The Government has issued guidance for users of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs which recommends that they take out insurance cover and undertake formal training. The guidance is available at online at:
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in implementing section 165 of the Equality Act 2010 which places a duty on taxi drivers to assist passengers who are wheelchair users.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
In February 2014, I instructed officials to carry out a survey, through the Disability Action Alliance, in order to provide Ministers with a better understanding of the range of issues facing wheelchair users when using taxis or PHVs around the country. I have shared the survey with Ministerial colleagues and discussions are continuing across Government on how best to address this issue.
In addition, the Law Commission's recently published (23rd May 2014) comprehensive review of taxi legislation also considered this matter and the Government will be responding to this document in due course.