Chamber and committees

Scottish Government submission of 17 June 2021

PE1866/A - Introduce legislation to improve bus travel for wheelchair users

Thank you for your request seeking Scottish Government consideration on legislation to improve bus travel for wheelchair users, particularly to enable wheelchair users being able to face forwards when travelling on a bus relating to petition PE1866.

This issue remains a reserved matter to the UK Government under the Devolution Settlement, The Scotland Act 1998 (as amended by the Scotland Act 2012). Schedule 5 to the act sets out those matters which are reserved to the UK Parliament.

It is however the policy of the Scottish Ministers to have all transport matters, including accessibility, fully devolved to the Scottish Government to enable us to better deliver for Scotland’s disabled travellers.

This particular matter falls under the Public Sector Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR), introduced in 2000, which requires buses and coaches carrying over twenty-two passengers on local or scheduled routes to incorporate features such as a ramp, wheelchair space and lift to enable disabled people to travel safely and in comfort.

Both forward and rearward facing wheelchair spaces are provided for in PSVAR, and operators may select the option which best fits the circumstances of the service being provided.

In the recently published Department for Transport National Bus Strategy “Bus Back Better” the UK Government committed to complete a review of the PSVAR by the end of 2023. We expect the review to be wide-ranging in its scope, considering the extent to which the Regulations are currently effective in supporting access to respective services, whether they cover the types of journey’s that disabled people need to access, and how they could be improved in the future. We, in the Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the UK Government on these matters.

The Scottish Government’s National Transport Strategy 2 sets out an ambitious and compelling vision for our transport system for the next 20 years, one that protects our climate and improves our lives. The Strategy advocates a vision for Scotland’s transport system, that will help create great places – a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors. It also sets out our priorities to support that vision including reducing inequalities to ensure we address the key challenges.

Going Further was the first national Accessible Travel Framework for Scotland. The framework provides a national vision and outcomes for accessible travel and a high-level action plan to tackle the key issues facing disabled people. Its vision is that “All disabled people can travel with the same freedom, choice, dignity and opportunity as other citizens.”

The vision is underpinned by four outcomes;

• more disabled people make successful door-to-door journeys, more often.
• disabled people are more involved in the design, development and improvement of transport policies, services and infrastructure.
• everyone involved in delivering transport information, services and infrastructure will help to enable disabled people to travel.
• disabled people feel comfortable and safe using public transport – this includes being free from hate crime, bullying and harassment when travelling.

I hope this response is of assistance.