Press Release (15 February 2007):
DPTAC urges extension of disability rights to air transport
The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) has today urged the government to lift the exemption that air travel now has from the Disability Discrimination Act's provisions for goods and services.
DPTAC Chair Neil Betteridge said:
"The Department for Transport's own research published last August showed that, despite the best intentions of much of the aviation industry, the voluntary Air Access Code had failed to bring about equal access to air travel for disabled people. Ministers have stated their preparedness to act if this proved to be the case, and it is now time for them to do so."
DPTAC was responding to "Access to Air Travel for Disabled People: 2005 Monitoring Study", a report published by the Department for Transport in August 2005. This study by TRL assessed the UK aviation industry's compliance with the voluntary Code of Practice "Access to Air Travel for Disabled People".
Commenting on the research, Neil Betteridge added:
"Some areas of serious failings by flight operators found by this research would be made unlawful if disabled people's rights were to be extended as we propose. It would also send a clear message to the aviation industry that gratuitous discrimination against disabled people is not to be tolerated. This has been the case since 4 December for land based transport, and our own research included a similar recommendation for maritime transport (ferries). European rules that comes into force in 2007 go some way to giving rights to disabled air travellers, but will not have the full effect of lifting this anomalous exemption."
"When I meet the Minister shortly as part of her process of reaching a decision on the exemption, I will explain that DPTAC looks forward to the Government's swift response to research on the ineffectiveness of the voluntary approach in aviation and in shipping."
He concluded:
"Whatever the government's decision we will continue to work constructively with officials and with the industry, as we have in the past. This work will include reviewing and revising the Air Access Code and our guidance to disabled people on it, in the light of the EU Regulation on the rights of disabled people travelling by air."
Notes for editors:
1. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) was set up under the Transport Act 1985 to advise the Government and industry on the transport needs of disabled people. The committee has a maximum of 20 members (of whom at least half must be disabled people), representing a wide range of transport interests. Neil Betteridge was reappointed Chair of DPTAC in 2006. Members are appointed by Ministers and are unpaid.
2. DPTAC was responding to "Access to Air Travel for Disabled People: 2005 Monitoring Study", a report published by the Department for Transport in August 2005. This study by TRL assessed the UK aviation industry's compliance with the voluntary Code of Practice "Access to Air Travel for Disabled People". The report is at www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/aviationshipping/accesstoairtravelfordisabled5974 and the Code itself at www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/aviationshipping/accesstoairtravelfordisabled5975.
3. Since 4 December 2006 it has been unlawful for transport operators to discriminate against disabled people using buses, trains, taxis, car hire and vehicle recovery services. Operators must also make reasonable adjustments to their services so that disabled people can use them.
4. On the current exemption of air and sea services from Part 3 of the DDA, the Government has taken powers in the DDA 2005 to be able to lift that exemption. Ministers have made it clear that they would make a decision about whether it is necessary to do so, on receipt of the benchmarking exercises which it and DPTAC had been carrying out.
5. DPTAC's research "Review of DPTAC guidance: large passenger ships and passenger infrastructure - final report" is available on the DPTAC website at: www.dptac.gov.uk/pubs/guideshipfinal/index.htm. Hard copies are available from the address below, as are copies in other formats.
6. DPTAC's guidance document "Guidance on the design of large passenger ships and passenger infrastructure to meet the needs of disabled people" is available on the DPTAC website at: www.dptac.gov.uk/pubs/guideship/index.htm. Hard copies are available from PO Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7NB, tel 0870 1226 236, fax 0870 1226 237, quoting reference 00PRLT0215, and copies in other format are available from the DPTAC address below.
7. For further information on DPTAC, contact:
Andy Kirby, DPTAC Secretary
Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
4/24 Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Direct line: 020 7944 8012
Fax: 020 7944 6998
Mincom: 020 7944 3277
E-mail: dptac@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.dptac.gov.uk
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