Transport Directorate
Bus, Freight and Roads Division
T: 0131-244 0866 F: 0131-244 0871
E:
Dave.williamson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
To: Local Authority Chief Executives; Local Licensing Authorities
25 April 2008
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT 1995
TAXI ACCESSIBILITY:
In 2003 the Scottish Government wrote to local authorities advising of the Westminster Government’s proposals for implementing the taxi provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) in England and Wales and of the approach proposed by the Scottish Executive with regard to implementation in Scotland. A copy of that letter is enclosed for reference.
The powers to specify the technical standards for accessible taxis under the DDA are reserved to Westminster. The Westminster Government announced in 2003 that it intended to set standards for wheelchair accessible taxis. Since then, however, the Department for Transport (DfT) has received a number of representations making the case for a broader range of disabled people’s needs to be met in any regulations, rather than restricting the requirements to wheelchair users. DfT have been considering how best this might be achieved. This is, however, a complex matter and as a result, regulations have not been made.
Ministers remain keen to make progress on taxi accessibility and therefore intend to develop a consultation package for summer 2008 to seek views on the way forward. The Department for Transport (Dft) has recently written to local authorities in England and Wales advising them of the forthcoming consultation.
The Scottish Government intend to liaise with DfT to ensure that the views of Scottish stakeholders are taken into consideration in the consultation process. To this end we will provide the DfT with contact addresses for Scottish stakeholders and we hope that your authority will engage in the forthcoming consultation.
I enclose a copy of a report by the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) Taxi Group which Dir have sent to authorities in England and Wales. The report contains information that you may find of interest.
You will note that it advocates a mixed fleet of accessible taxis. This will certainly be one of the options on which views will be sought during the consultation process. A summary of the enclosed report can be accessed on the ECMT website at
http://www.iru.org/index/cms-filesystem ... ry2007.pdf
In the meantime, council policy with regard to accessible taxis remains a matter for individual licensing authorities to determine.
I should be grateful if you would pass the additional copy of this letter to the appropriate council licensing officer.
Yours sincerely
D R Williamson
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ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ
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