Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122568, when the Department plans to announce the next steps on Bus and coach accessibility and the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000.

The Government wants disabled people to be able to travel easily, confidently, and with dignity and we understand the importance of accessible bus services in supporting people to live their lives the way they want to.

While significant progress has been made over the past two and a half decades in securing access to buses and coaches for millions of disabled people, we recognise the barriers that many disabled people continue to face in their everyday use of passenger transport services.

In 2023, the previous Government began a review of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000, including the application of accessibility Regulations to rail replacement and home-to-school services. Existing “Medium Term Exemptions” are due to expire on 31 July, and we will provide further information on the regime that will follow them shortly.

In the meantime, we are taking action to improve access to bus services for millions of disabled people. We are requiring local authorities to pay regard to new statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus stations and stops, and every Local Transport Authority in England is now required to produce a Bus Network Accessibility Plan setting out how accessible bus services in their area are, and the steps they will take to improve accessibility further.