Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Disclosure of Information

(asked on )

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport of 9 January 2014, Official Report, column 174WH, on disabled people (access to transport) and to his oral Answer of 8 May 2014, what his Department's policy is on reviewing the UK's derogation from the requirement to have disability awareness training for bus drivers as set out in EU Regulation 181/2011.


Answered by
Stephen Hammond Portrait
Stephen Hammond
This question was answered on 13th May 2014

In March 2013, the Department for Transport made use of a number of time-limited exemptions available within EU Regulation 181/2011. These included an exemption from the requirement for drivers to undertake mandatory disability awareness training. However, we are also committed to review the use of the disability awareness training exemption in March 2014, this process is largely complete.

To inform the review, on 24 February 2014 my noble Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer, wrote to bus industry representatives requesting information on the structure and effectiveness of disability awareness training courses currently offered and sought an update on the percentage of drivers that have completed this important training.  A copy of this letter was also sent to disability stakeholders and charities with an interest in disability awareness training, seeking their input on this issue.

Throughout March, the Department received many comprehensive responses on this subject from a range of stakeholders and we are currently working through this information. Once we have considered all responses in detail, Baroness Kramer will provide further details on how the Department intends to proceed shortly.

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