Annual Report 2004-2005

A: The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee

Background

1. We are an independent organisation that advises the Government on the transport needs of disabled people. We provide expert advice and carry out independent research. We aim to help develop a more inclusive society. This means one where more people are able to take part. We were set up under the 1985 Transport Act and held our first meeting in 1986. Between 2000 and 2005 we also advised the Government on the built environment needs of disabled people.

Our function

2. We advise the Government on a number of topics. In 2004-05 these have included the following:

• Putting the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 into practice, in relation to transport and the built environment.
• Taking forward the Disability Rights Task Force's recommendations on transport and the built environment.
• Dealing with issues of how disabled people are enabled to make use of transport facilities and services.
• Monitoring the progress that has been made on access to transport and the built environment.
• Developing guidance for the professionals who design and run transport in this country.
• Making sure disabled people can influence access to transport in all its forms and at all levels.

Our aims

3. We aim that disabled people can go where everyone else goes and can do so easily and without extra cost. We would like to see this happen over the next fifteen years. We have chosen this time span because all rail vehicles will be accessible to disabled people by 2020, and buses will be accessible to people with mobility disabilities by 2017. Our membership includes disabled people with a broad range of experiences of using transport and buildings, as well as professional people dealing with disability and transport. This ensures that we can speak with credibility on both the needs of transport customers and effective ways of meeting them. We regularly experience the difficulties disabled people face getting around, not least attending meetings and events on behalf of DPTAC.

4. DPTAC is committed to the creation of a fully inclusive transport system and built environment which:

• Provides equitable access.
• Allocates appropriate space for people.
• Ensures ease of use, comprehension and understanding.
• Requires only acceptable levels of stress, physical strength and effort.
• Achieves safe, comfortable and healthy environments.

Our strategy

5. Our overall strategy is to lead in the development of policy and to influence government decisions through providing high quality advice informed by disabled people, the important people who have a stake in the services. This will help us to make sure that they deliver a transport system that is accessible to everyone.

6. This year we adopted a new strategy that sets out how we plan to carry out our work between 2005 and 2007. This is published on our website (www.dptac.gov.uk). In 2004 we consulted widely on the draft of this strategy. During the consultation period, the draft on the website was visited 1783 times, and about 50 hard copies were requested.

7. We received 21 responses from 18 organisations and individuals. As a result of the consultation, we made a number of changes to the details and wording of our strategy and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who took part. Summaries and full responses are available on request from the Secretary, except where groups and individuals have asked for their responses to remain private.

8. Our remit on the built environment needs of disabled people will not extend beyond March 2005. Further details of this decision and what it means for us are given in Section B. The decision has meant that we have had to make some further changes to the Strategy.

9. Each year, we develop a detailed programme of work that shows the activities that we plan to carry out to achieve our aims. Our Work Programme for 2005-06 is set out in Section C.

Membership

10. New appointments to DPTAC are made on a rolling programme to ensure continuity. As a result, the Committee retains expertise even when experienced Members retire or their appointments are not renewed. In January 2005, following an open competition, the Secretary of State for Transport, appointed three new Members, and reappointed a number of others. Over 70 people applied for membership. Along with those who were reappointed, Sean Bolton, Alan Norton and Katherine Phipps were appointed for a period of three years to December 2007.

11. During the year five Members left DPTAC. They included Peter Barker, who served as Chair of the Built Environment Working Group, and Julie Giles, who served as Chair of the Bus, Coach and Community Transport Working Group. We also said goodbye to Sian Baldwin, Roy Hayter and Laura Smales who we would like to thank for their contributions.

12. Before the publication of our next report, the Department for Transport expect to advertise for new Members for a further round of DPTAC appointments. If you would like to be added to mailing list of people to be sent more information, including details on how to apply, then please contact:

The Mobility and Inclusion Unit
Department for Transport
4/25, Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR

or by telephone on 020 7944 8021 or 020 7944 3277 (Minicom) or email: miu@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

13. We have held and evaluated a training session for existing and new Members, on the main issues relevant to disabled people and on our work, and have also offered individual support to our new Members. New and established Members are now working well with the Secretariat as an integrated team.

14. The working groups that we re-established in 2003 for the different modes of transport, and for the built environment and for education and training have continued to be the main way that we take forward our work. Each group has a Chair and supporting Members and we have also included representation from industry, regulatory bodies and government departments.

Our resources

15. The Department for Transport and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have provided the resources to support our work. Table 1 below shows what it cost to run DPTAC in each of the past three financial years. In addition we have been able to use the Department for Transport's research budget to carry out work reviewing the effectiveness of the guidance we produced for port and vessel operators. Further details of this work are given in Section B.

Table 1: DPTAC actual expenditure 2002-03 to 2004-05

(All figures in pounds sterling)

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