Annual Report 2004-2005

C: Work Programme for 2005-2006

59. In March 2005 we completed our Work Programme for 2005-06. This set out our priorities for the year; our main activities, how we are going to achieve them, and how we can demonstrate whether or not we are succeeding. We have since made some amendments to it to reflect our change of remit and will be reporting on progress in our Annual Report for 2005-06.

The priorities

60. For 2005-06 our five priorities are:

• to discharge DPTAC's statutory responsibilities
• to assist in the implementation of the Disability Rights Task Force Report and subsequent recommendations to Government relating to transport through primary, secondary and European legislation
• to ensure accessibility is achieved, enforced, measured monitored and evaluated, with progress benchmarked
• to include accessibility in the main stream of transport policy, practice and procedure and show how this can support other government aims such as those relating to health, sustainable development, sustainable communities, deprivation, and law and order to ensure that the advisory, regulatory and enforcement structures necessary to achieve accessibility such as the Disability Rights Commission, and its successor the Commission for Equality and Human Rights are in place and that they help achieve the mobility needs of disabled people.

Our work programme for 2005-2006: Proactive tasks

Task 1: Influence the content and effectiveness of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Task 2: Produce guidance for the Department for Transport on addressing the needs of disabled people.

Task 3: Implement the Communications Strategy, including publishing the Annual Report 2004-05, and reviewing www.dptac.gov.uk to ensure it remains relevant and informative.

Task 4: Publish a specification for improving access to toilets on aircraft.

Task 5: Develop a specification for an on-board wheelchair for use on aircraft.

[Tasks 6 and 7 removed due to change in remit.]

Task 8: Review changes to concessionary fares in Scotland and Wales and develop options for possible changes in England.

Task 9: Secure movement towards the amendment of the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 to cover the provision of audible and visual information systems on buses.

Task 10: Promote the enforcement of the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct) Regulations 2002.

Task 11: Collate answers from the DPTAC/accredited school questionnaire and take the appropriate follow up action.

[Task 12 Future Inclusive competition has now been concluded.]

Task 13: Influence primary schools' curriculum with regards inclusive environments.

Task 14: Develop advice on road user charging.

Task 15: Research reviewing how effectively home zone design standards reflect the needs of disabled people.

Task 16: Contribute to development of disability equality strategies.

Task 17: Complete research on evaluating the effectiveness of DPTAC's guidance on large passenger ferries and terminals.

Task 18: Provide guidance to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on developing and reporting on its Action Plan for European Union Directive 2003/24/EC Safety requirements for persons with reduced mobility.

Task 19: Develop and publish guidance to passengers and industry on boarding and alighting rail vehicles using ramps. In conjunction with MIU and the Association of Train Operating Companies.

Task 20: Assist the Strategic Rail Authority and then the Department for Transport in the development of its Accessibility Strategy for rail. Ensure that accessibility for disabled rail passengers remains a high priority during the dissolution of the SRA and the reallocation of its roles and responsibilities.

Task 21: Ascertain at what point a service is offered and the limits of the duty of care on a taxi/PHV driver.

Task 22: Update the DPTAC advice for taxi drivers.

Our work programme for 2005-2006: Reactive tasks

Task 23: Respond to all other consultations of relevance to access for disabled people.

Task 24: Advise MIU on exemptions from the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) where they are contentious, to help clarify points of principle.

Task 25: Advise on any future stages in the review of the Blue Badge Scheme.

Task 26: Advise the Secretary of State on Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations exemption applications, and the Strategic Rail Authority (and then the Department for Transport) on dispensations from the Code of Practice 'Train and Station Services for Disabled Passengers'.

Task 27: Advise on the Franchise Replacement Programme including Disabled Peoples Protection Policies and Schedules of Minor Works. This advice will take two forms:
- Strategic advice to the Strategic Rail Authority and its successor
- Specific advice and feedback to operators

Task 28: Advise on the Mobility and Inclusion Unit's research on the requirements of an ergonomic taxi.

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