Annual Report 1999

1. The year's achievements

DPTAC's 1998 report set out the Committee's objectives for 1999. This section describes the most important work undertaken by DPTAC to meet those objectives, and the Committee's other key achievements during 1999.

New Chair, new Members, new Secretariat

The DPTAC Chair and members are generally appointed for a three-year period, and 31 December 1998 marked the end of the current cycle. Bob Taylor OBE DL stepped down as Chairman and member of the Committee, to be replaced by Jane Wilmot OBE. The Committee welcomed new members Ed Bassford, Peter Field, Joe Hennessy, Cllr Janet Kirk, Rubina Hassanali, Peter Lee, Carol Thomas, Nick Tyler and Richard West. Full details of the current DPTAC membership is in Appendix C. The whole Committee attended a two day briefing meeting in April, where the DETR Permanent Secretary Sir Richard Mottram and other speakers from DETR gave presentations on current policy developments.

In light of the changes in the Committee's membership, there were consequential changes to the membership of DPTAC's six Working Groups. Full details of DPTAC's Working Group membership is in Appendix D.

The changes in membership and appointment of Jane Wilmot as the new Chair gave DETR and DPTAC an opportunity to review secretariat support. We were delighted when the Minister decided that DETR should provide DPTAC with a dedicated Secretariat, rather than part time support from the DETR's Mobility Unit (now the Mobility and Inclusion Unit). This will enable DPTAC to demonstrate that it is providing independent advice to Government. It will also allow DPTAC to review its procedures to ensure it makes the best use of resources available to the Committee. We very much appreciate the support given to DPTAC which the Unit has provided over many years, and look forward to maintaining good relations with the Unit, and with other DETR colleagues.

In its Annual Report for 1998, DPTAC set itself a number of objectives for 1999. DPTAC's performance against those objectives is set out below.

Objective 1: advising on "the development and implementation of policies arising from the White Paper on Integrated Transport Policy"

The Government's July 1998 White Paper (A New Deal for Transport - Better for Everyone) set out the Government's overall transport policy framework. More detailed proposals were contained in a number of "daughter documents" on individual modes of transport. The main points of DPTAC's responses were as follows:

"Breaking the Logjam": the Government's consultation paper on fighting traffic congestion and pollution through road user and workplace parking charges. The paper sought views on the treatment of vehicles carrying disabled people.

DPTAC recommends a national exemption from road user charging for vehicles displaying a valid Orange/Blue Badge and the need for disabled people to be exempted from the effects of any workplace parking levy.

" From Workhorse to Thoroughbred: A better role for bus travel" (March 99)

DPTAC believes that providing accessible public transport for disabled people will benefit all public transport users and offer a real alternative to car travel. Accessible buses, accessible infrastructure (e.g. bus stops), improved staff disability awareness training, information about services and accessible transport links to infrastructure in towns and rural areas play a part in achieving accessibility for all. However, DPTAC recognises that a small number of disabled people, because of the nature of their disabilities, will always have to rely on the car; the parking needs of orange/blue badge holders will need to be part of all transport plans and strategies.

DPTAC recognises the need for affordable transport and recommended that the Government's proposal for concessionary fares for older people be extended to include all disabled people (including people with learning disabilities) and, further, that consideration should be given to establishing a similar statutory minimum concession for door-to-door services for those whose disabilities prevent them from using ordinary public transport services. DPTAC also believes that consideration should be given to facilitating cross-border co-operation so that disabled people can use the travel concessions for journeys involving more than one local authority area.

DPTAC held regular meetings with Public Transport Information 2000 (PTI 2000) to ensure it was accessible to all disabled people, as well as fully compliant with Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. PTI 2000 aims to establish a national multi-modal journey planning system through telephone and other media.

Objective 2: advising on "the recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force affecting transport and mobility"

The Disability Rights Task Force (DRTF) did not produce its report "From Exclusion to Inclusion" until December 1999. However, DPTAC welcomed the DRTF's recommendations on transport which strengthen existing transport provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Government produced an interim response to the DRTF report on 13 March 2000, although its further consideration of the remaining recommendations is still awaited. More generally, DPTAC will work closely with the Disability Rights Commission (the new disability rights watchdog established by the Government and endorsed by the DRTF).

Objective 3: advising on "the impact of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act on transport providers and local authorities"

Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is based on the principle that disabled people should not be discriminated against by service providers or those involved in the disposal or management of premises. Subject to limited exceptions, anyone who comes within those two categories must comply with the duties set out in Part III. DPTAC has continued to take a keen interest in this area.

Objective 4: implementation of Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Part V of the Act gives the Secretary of State powers to make regulations for the accessibility of taxis, public service vehicles and rail vehicles. DPTAC also took a keen interest in the development, by DETR, of draft regulations in respect of public service vehicles and has continued to monitor progress on the development of taxi regulations.

Applications for exemptions from the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998:

DPTAC established a sub-committee of its Rail Working Group to consider applications for exemption from the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR) referred to it by the Secretary of State.

During 1999, the DPTAC Rail Exemptions Sub Committee, chaired by Bert Massie, met 7 times and advised the Secretary of State on 10 applications from 8 train operators.

DPTAC aimed to make a recommendation on each application within approximately one month after the Secretary of State referred the application to it. This was achieved in six of the ten cases considered by DPTAC during 1999. Of the other four cases, three were dealt with within three months. The fourth case took slightly longer due to the applicant amending the original application.

The exemption process was primarily designed to accommodate new trains in the pipeline as at 31 December 1998. DPTAC recommends that the situation be kept under review but expects all new trains to be fully compliant with the RVAR.

It is noted that train operators do not provide official notification to DETR of entry into service of new trains which received exemption from the RVAR.

Development of taxi and PSV accessibility regulations:

In August 1999, DETR issued three sets of draft PSV accessibility regulations for consultation. DPTAC made extensive comments on the drafts. The regulations will take effect from 31 December 2000. DPTAC has been - and continue to be - closely involved in developing the regulations and the guidance which will accompany them. DPTAC will monitor the implementation of the regulations, giving advice and guidance as necessary.

The draft taxi regulations were not available to DPTAC to consider in 1999. However, DETR officials were confident that draft regulations would be available for DPTAC to consider in 2001.

Development of advice and guidance to accompany regulations on trains, PSVs and taxis.

DETR did not issue any draft guidance for formal consultation during 1999. However, preliminary draft guidance on rail regulations was issued in December 1999.

Objective 5: "raising standards of accessibility in transport modes not covered by Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, in particular ferries and air travel"

DPTAC's Ferries Working Group and the joint DPTAC Airports/Access to the Skies UK Group continued to address a wide range of issues, some of which are described below.

The Ferries Working Group issued a draft document "Guidance and Design of Large Passenger Ships" for consultation with the shipping industry, and other groups. The Working Group also commissioned independent research into the responses to a Passenger Ferry questionnaire sent to operators in 1998 in order to assess the services they provide for disabled people and visited Stranraer Ferry Terminal during 1999 to assess facilities for disabled travellers.

The Airports/ATTSUK Working Group began work on a specification for wheelchair accessible toilets on wide-bodied aircraft, and a pocket-size guidance card for handling agents on how to provide assistance to disabled air travellers. The Group also persuaded airport operators to carry out access audits at 44 UK airports. Members have been involved in the development of DETR's proposed Code of Practice on access to air travel, and in discussions to agree a charging formula for funding special assistance at UK airports at no cost to disabled passengers.

Objective 6: promoting disability awareness training within the transport industries.

DPTAC consistently promotes disability awareness training, both within the transport industries and elsewhere. DPTAC members worked together with TransFed (the training organisation for the bus and coach industry) and the Passenger Transport Executives to finalise a training pack which was introduced in 1999. The pack (which forms part of the compulsory element of NVQ training for bus drivers) comprised a booklet and video. The pack aimed to raise drivers' awareness of the importance of improving passenger service and care. DPTAC welcomed this initiative.

DPTAC also began to consider the need for research into the availability and effectiveness of education and training on the transport needs of disabled people, work which is being taken forward in 2000. This issue has been of concern to all DPTAC Working Groups, and DPTAC believes that such research is long overdue. DPTAC is conscious that there are many examples of highly trained professionals lacking in awareness of disability issues who are responsible for managing transport operations and budgets, and the Committee looks forward to the results of the research.

Objective 7: "promoting awareness of developments in accessible transport to disabled people.

DPTAC wants to recognise and promote good practice by service providers, and bring it to the attention of other operators and disabled people. DPTAC also takes the lead in promoting standards; in 1999 DPTAC began work on a draft specification for small buses (those capable of carrying less than 22 passengers), as well as the guidance on large passenger ships previously mentioned.

However, DPTAC needs to raise awareness among disabled people of new transport opportunities, and of the work of DPTAC in advising Government and industry on improving transport for disabled people. We also need to provide impartial advice to local disability groups involved in consultation with transport providers at local level. The Committee intends to address this as part of its work programme for 2000 and beyond.

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

DPTAC has taken due account of the need for sustainable development in providing advice. Making public transport more accessible to more people can undoubtedly help to reduce car use and its accompanying environmental impact. However, DPTAC acknowledges that for some disabled people there will never be a viable alternative to the private car. DPTAC therefore strongly recommends to policy-makers and local authorities that door-to-door transport, including the full use of the private car by some disabled people, must continue to play a crucial role in meeting the mobility needs of disabled people unable to use public transport.

Published 11 December 2000

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