Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's news article entitled New plans to boost protections for airline passengers, published on 27 June 2023, whether his Department has had recent discussions with disabled (a) people and (b) people's organisations on its proposed reforms of aviation consumer policy.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government published the response to the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation on 27 June 2023. The response sets out findings from the consultation and next steps on the proposals.
Responses to the proposals on compensation and refunds illustrated the complexity of the system and a range of competing factors and so the Government concluded further work is required to consider the merits and limitations of any changes in the area. The Government will consult on the compensation and payment framework for all forms of disruption. The Government will set out a timeframe for further consultation in due course.
The legislative reforms to give the Civil Aviation Authority additional powers to enforce consumer rights and mandating Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for all airlines will be taken forward when parliamentary time allows. In the meantime, the Department will work with the industry and associated stakeholders to drive forward improvements for aviation consumers.
The Government wants everyone to have equal opportunity to travel by air with dignity and respect. The Minister for Aviation chaired an Aviation Accessibility Roundtable on 28 June 2023 with disabled people, organisations representing disabled people, disability experts, members of both Houses of Parliament and the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee. The roundtable considered the key issues and concerns that these passenger groups face and explored possible solutions to amplify their voice and improve the travel experience for disabled and less mobile passengers. The Department for Transport will continue discussions with these stakeholders.
The Government launched the new training package for the Department for Transport’s REAL disability awareness training programme on 27 June 2023, to ensure those handling powered wheelchairs are aware of the impact any damage has for the user, with useful tips on handling this vital equipment.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's news article entitled New plans to boost protections for airline passengers, published on 27 June 2023, when his Department plans to roll out training for ground handlers in handling mobility equipment.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government published the response to the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation on 27 June 2023. The response sets out findings from the consultation and next steps on the proposals.
Responses to the proposals on compensation and refunds illustrated the complexity of the system and a range of competing factors and so the Government concluded further work is required to consider the merits and limitations of any changes in the area. The Government will consult on the compensation and payment framework for all forms of disruption. The Government will set out a timeframe for further consultation in due course.
The legislative reforms to give the Civil Aviation Authority additional powers to enforce consumer rights and mandating Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for all airlines will be taken forward when parliamentary time allows. In the meantime, the Department will work with the industry and associated stakeholders to drive forward improvements for aviation consumers.
The Government wants everyone to have equal opportunity to travel by air with dignity and respect. The Minister for Aviation chaired an Aviation Accessibility Roundtable on 28 June 2023 with disabled people, organisations representing disabled people, disability experts, members of both Houses of Parliament and the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee. The roundtable considered the key issues and concerns that these passenger groups face and explored possible solutions to amplify their voice and improve the travel experience for disabled and less mobile passengers. The Department for Transport will continue discussions with these stakeholders.
The Government launched the new training package for the Department for Transport’s REAL disability awareness training programme on 27 June 2023, to ensure those handling powered wheelchairs are aware of the impact any damage has for the user, with useful tips on handling this vital equipment.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2023 to Question 189782 on Disability, if he will state the other seven commitments in the National Disability Strategy that his Department has fully implemented.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
In addition to the Accessible Information Regulations (AIR) which were made in June 2023, the department has implemented the following seven commitments from the National Disability Strategy:
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 1 February 2022 to Question 113209 on Railway Stations: Disability, what progress his Department has made on conducting a network-wide accessibility audit of station facilities at all 2,565 mainline railway stations in Great Britain to inform future investment decisions.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Work is now complete on auditing all stations across Great Britain to understand how accessible they are for passengers with a range of requirements. We have commissioned the Great British Railways Transition Team to implement data platforms to (a) allow passengers to access this information to better plan their journeys and (b) allow the rail industry to better plan how they operate the network.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of disabled people currently hold a driving licence.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Data from the National Travel Survey show that in 2021, 61% of disabled adults aged 17 or over in England held a full car driving licence, compared with 80% of adults with no disability. Data are not available on the number of disabled people holding a driving licence, as the proportions above are derived from a sample and are therefore estimates rather than precise figures.
These data are updated annually in the disability, accessibility and blue badge statistical release:
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21st October 2022 to Question 69709, when he plans to publish his Department's response to the Best Practice Guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England consultation.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Department intends to publish the Government's response to the consultation on updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England later this year.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of their Department's employees are recorded as having a disability.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The representation of disabled staff within the Department is currently 8.6%, with a declaration rate of 82.4%.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that local licensing authorities offer disability equality training to taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Last year the Department consulted on updated taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) best practice guidance for licensing authorities, which provided strengthened recommendations on the provision of an inclusive service.
The guidance recommended licensing authorities ensure there are sufficient wheelchair accessible vehicles within the fleets they regulate to fulfil the demand from disabled passengers. It also recommended that licensing authorities require taxi and PHV drivers to undertake disability awareness training to give them the skills, knowledge, and confidence to provide disabled people with appropriate assistance.
The Department’s response to this consultation will be published in due course, along with a substantive version of the updated guidance document. In the meantime, we remain committed to mandating the completion of disability awareness training by taxi and PHV drivers when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles in England.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Last year the Department consulted on updated taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) best practice guidance for licensing authorities, which provided strengthened recommendations on the provision of an inclusive service.
The guidance recommended licensing authorities ensure there are sufficient wheelchair accessible vehicles within the fleets they regulate to fulfil the demand from disabled passengers. It also recommended that licensing authorities require taxi and PHV drivers to undertake disability awareness training to give them the skills, knowledge, and confidence to provide disabled people with appropriate assistance.
The Department’s response to this consultation will be published in due course, along with a substantive version of the updated guidance document. In the meantime, we remain committed to mandating the completion of disability awareness training by taxi and PHV drivers when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local licensing authorities publish data on the number of wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles available in their local area in the context of section 167 of the Equality Act.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Following the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 receiving Royal Assent in April 2022, we published guidance to support local licensing authorities to fulfil their new duty to maintain and publish a list of wheelchair accessible vehicles in their area.
We will monitor compliance with s167 of the Equality Act through the Department’s annual taxi and private hire vehicle statistics.