Annual Report 1998

9. Objectives for 1999

DPTAC must fulfil its statutory roles as defined in the Transport Act 1985 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995: advising the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (and other Government Departments as necessary) on aspects of Government policy - current or proposed - affecting the transport and mobility needs of disabled people; and in particular:

1 the development and implementation of policies arising from the White Paper on Integrated Transport Policy;

2 the recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force affecting transport and mobility;

3 the impact of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act on transport providers and local authorities.

4 the implementation of Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act¹ and, in particular:

a. applications for exemption from the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998;

b. the development of PSV Accessibility Regulations;

c. the development of Taxi Accessibility Regulations;

d. the development of advice and guidance to accompany regulations on trains, PSVs and taxis;

5 raising standards of accessibility in transport modes not covered by Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act, in particular ferries and air travel.

6 promoting disability awareness and training within the transport industries.

7 promoting awareness of developments in accessible transport to disabled people

8 to take account of the need for sustainable development when advising Government and industry.

¹ Detailed work on items 4a-d and 5 is being taken forward by the relevant Working Groups.