21.
During discussions on the wider work programme, members raised the following points:
- That the DfT and OftDPM Business plans should reflect MIU and DPTAC's work.
- That people with Learning Disabilities must be fully involved with transport issues in Northern Ireland.
Agenda
item 5:
Legislation and Regulation (03/M3/02)
(i)
DRTF Transport Recommendations
29.
Ann Frye, Head of MIU, informed the meeting that the first draft of the consultation paper on taking forward the Disability Rights Task Force recommendations on transport had been received. This would need to be completed and receive clearance across Whitehall before public consultation, expected to begin in July.
30.
Ann confirmed that DPTAC would have sight of the paper following Whitehall clearance and before public consultation.
Action
Point 5: MIU to ensure DPTAC sees the DRTF Recommendations prior to public consultation (Following Whitehall Clearance).
(ii)
DRC Legislative Review
Copies circulated separately
31.
The Chair invited Will Bee to explain the background to the Disability Rights Commission Legislative Review and its purpose.
32.
He explained that one of the DRC's objectives was to keep the Disability Discrimination Act under review and monitor its effectiveness in ending the discrimination of disabled people.
33.
This review aimed to consider progress since the publication of the Disability Rights Task Force report and the subsequent response by the Government. The transport and built environment recommendations, which were of primary interest to the committee, were largely based on those made in the DRTF report.
34.
He invited Members, individually and collectively, to respond to the consultation and highlight areas where the DRC had not gone too far, not far enough or misinterpreted the priorities of disabled people. The Disability Rights Commission was keen to ensure it received a wide range of responses that fully reflected the concerns of disabled people.
35. Ann Frye highlighted the disappointment of the Department for Transport that despite repeated confirmation that the Government had accepted the DRTF recommendations, the DRC legislative review gave the impression this was not the case.
36. The Secretariat has ordered copies of the consultation and will circulate to Members for comment.
37. The Chair asked Members to make comments by 12 July to the Secretariat so that a draft paper could be considered on 7 August.
Action
Point 6: Members to send all comments on DRC legislative Review to Secretariat by 12 July.
Action
Point 7: Secretariat to draft response for further discussion at 7 August Main Committee.
Action
Point 8: Richard West to contact DRC publication team setting out his concerns with their publications.
38.
In addition to the legislative review, Members questioned whether DPTAC should express a view on the possibility of a single equalities commission being established. In general it was felt that, while there may be benefits from a single commission in the long term, the specific needs of disabled people may not be as well served by a single body in the short term. Members would consider this issue further in the future.
Action
Point 9: DPTAC to consider a stance on Single Equalities Commission.
Agenda
item 6:
DPTAC Communication Strategy (03/M3/02)
39.
The Chair invited members to consider the draft communication strategy included in their papers.
40.
Jane highlighted the following elements of the strategy:
- Improving communication is an important part of the DPTAC strategy to be more open and raise awareness of access issues.
- However DPTAC has limited resources and has to be realistic about its ability to communicate with all organisations.
- The strategy focuses on using the web site to put information in the public domain and raise awareness among organisations that work in transport and the built environment and among disabled people.
- Members need to be aware of the implications of increased communication on their time.
41. In discussion it was agreed that DPTAC should focus on its primary purpose of advising Government, not be too concerned with seeking media opportunities, and aim to raise awareness among those in a position to influence issues relating to the transport and built environment needs of disabled people. It was also stressed that DPTAC would want to consider the opportunities for dissemination and communication as part of the process of agreeing tasks in its work programme.
42. It was also suggested that more use might be made of DPTAC's "Who we are" leaflet and of key contacts in other organisations.
43. These considerations would be reflected in a revised paper at the next meeting.
Action
Point 10: Vidur Dindayal to develop his contact at RIBA in relation to the Built Environment Group.
the final draft recommendations from DPTAC on 26 April.
Action
Point 11: Members to circulate "Who we are" leaflet to contacts. (Secretariat to provide members initial copies. Further copies available direct from DfT Free Literature on 0870 1266 236).
Action
Point 12: Members to send detailed comments on DPTAC Communication Strategy to Secretariat by 12 July.
Action
Point 13: Secretariat to draft revised paper be discussed at 7 August Main Committee.
Agenda
item 7:
Definition and Benchmarks for Accessibility (04/M3/02)
43.
Members considered a draft paper on a definition of accessibility. This was based on discussions at a previous meeting on 21 May, where it was recognised that accessibility was a complex area with different definitions.
44.
It was agreed that what was needed was a simple clear message to engage a wide range of audiences leading to a short definition not a complex explanation in the draft paper.
45.
Members had a wide-ranging discussion covering a range of different perspectives. There were different proposals put forward and no agreement was reached. Members wanted to consider further why a definition was being proposed.
Action
Point 14: David Finnegan to e-mail his alternative definition of accessibility to Secretariat.
Action
Point 15: Members to submit comments on Definition of Accessibility (agenda paper 04/M3/02) to Secretariat by 12 July.
Action
Point 16: Secretariat to draft revised paper on a definition of accessibility for further discussion at August Main Committee.
46.
Sue Sharp reported on two research projects being let by the Department for Transport to identify benchmarks for measuring and monitoring accessibility. DPTAC would be invited to be involved in this work.
Action
Point 17: MIU to invite DPTAC to join the research project steering group on developing benchmarks for accessibility.
Agenda
item 8:
Any Other Business
(i)
Code of Practice for Scientific Committees including register of interests
47.
Members noted the paper on the Code of Practice and the necessary amendments to DPTAC procedures. Principal among these was the need to establish a register of interests and the Secretariat would be inviting Members to complete this over the coming weeks.
Action
Point 18: Secretariat to request Members to complete a register of interests.
(ii)
European issues
48. The Chair invited Peter Barker to outline his concerns on about the involvement of disabled people in developing and agreeing International and European standards affecting access for disabled people.
49. David Petherick agreed to establish a meeting with Don Holman at the British Standards Institute consumer committee to identify current practice and the need for any amendment.
Action
Point 19: David Petherick to raise consumer representation, including the interests of disabled people, with Don Holman of the British Standards Institute.
(iii)
Making the connections: Transport and Social Exclusion Interim Findings from the Social Exclusion Unit
50. The Chair reported that the SEU are finalising their report for publication in the early Autumn but that the interim report had been circulated for comment. Although the interim report and recommendations were in the right direction the implications for disabled people could be improved and Members would wish to comment.
51. At this stage, the SEU want specific suggestions and actions rather than general considerations so Members were invited to make detailed comments to the Secretariat by 3 July.
52. These would then be discussed with the SEU at a meeting on 8 July (11am).
Action
Point 20: Members to send detailed comments on Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) report by 3 July.
Action
Point 21: Members invited to meeting with SEU on 8 July (11am).
Date
of next Main Committee meeting 1.30pm 13 August 2002.
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