Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on driver only operation trains of the advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission that such trains would offer less protection for disabled people and potentially be in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

The Department has not been in receipt of advice from the EHRC regarding Driver Only Operation and whether or not it could offer less protection for disabled people.

The Department recognises how important it is that those who need assistance to travel receive that assistance. As a condition of their licence, all train operators are required to have a Disabled People’s Protection Policy in place which includes a requirement to participate in the Passenger Assist system for disabled passengers to book staff assistance when they require it. This Policy must be approved by the independent regulator, the Office for Rail and Road.