Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2023 to Question 180134 on Railways: Concessions, if his Department will take steps to ensure that updated eligibility criteria use identity-first language such as autistic people.

The Disabled Persons Railcard is administered by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on behalf of the rail industry.

The Inclusive Transport Strategy (ITS) was published on 25 July 2018. The ITS sets out the key policy and investment priorities to deliver a wholly inclusive transport system. Among the key rail commitments include the Department working with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) to undertake a review of the Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC).

The Department will expect RDG to confirm if they plan to use identity-first language when outlining eligibility criteria following completion of the review.

We expect that the review will be completed in the first half of 2023. The review has looked at different aspects of the current card (e.g., eligibility and discount rate) and is now considering how a revised or refreshed card could be realised for the post-Covid railway.