I am sure there is a film about that—“Planes, Trains and Automobiles”—and I am sure we will have our own version of that. I thank the noble Lord most sincerely for his warm words. I will say one more thing before addressing the amendments. Much is sometimes said about your Lordships’ House with regard to the role we play and our revising nature. Since I joined the House well over five years ago I have always maintained that it possesses much expertise. It is important, at times when we look at the scrutiny of Bills, that we look also at the expertise we possess.
Perhaps there is also a challenge for all Front-Benchers in your Lordships’ House. I have already alluded to my portfolio responsibilities. Those who represent their respective parties in your Lordships’ House have to speak to a much wider portfolio. The challenge—or maybe it is an opportunity we all enjoy—reflected not least in this afternoon’s proceedings, is demonstrated by the fact that so far, as the Minister responsible for aviation, I have managed to answer a Question at Question Time about rail and I am now taking through the Bus Services Bill. Again, that reflects the diversity of the House of Lords.
On the amendments, I have of course had various correspondence on this important issue, including with the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell, who cannot be with us today. I thank in particular the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, for her customary introduction of the amendments. It is always helpful to bring these amendments to life by highlighting practical examples, which she always does, so I thank her for that. I have a great deal of sympathy with the question of how we should ensure that all passengers have the confidence to travel by bus. The amendments in the names of the noble Baronesses, Lady Campbell and Lady Brinton, seek to ensure that the rights and interests of disabled passengers are fully protected when an enhanced partnership scheme is developed and subsequently operated. I assure noble Lords that I entirely agree with the sentiment of these proposals. Disabled passengers should be able to access and use bus services on the same terms as those who are not disabled.
The Equality Act 2010 includes provisions on transport infrastructure and vehicle access, and the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 set out the accessibility requirements which apply to certain buses. Buses have to be accessible to disabled people, who must be able to travel in comfort. Among other things, they must not be discriminated against in accessing transport—and this does not mean just installing ramps and widening doorways for wheelchair users. The accessibility regulations require facilities such as low-floor boarding devices, visual contrast on
step edges, handholds and handrails, priority seats and provision for passengers in wheelchairs.
From January this year, all single-deck buses designed to carry more than 22 passengers on local and scheduled routes need to be compliant with the regulations and double-deck buses will need to be compliant by January 2017. This legislation will make it unlawful for bus operators to disregard the needs of disabled people, including wheelchair users, and they will have to comply with the requirements of the accessibility regulations.
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Amendment 99A seeks to address the current issue relating to the right of disabled passengers to access wheelchair spaces on buses—which, as noble Lords will be aware, is subject to an appeal to the Supreme Court. As I have said before from the Dispatch Box, I do not believe that it is appropriate to take any decisions about related issues while the outcome of that action is unknown. I shall, of course, be monitoring the situation.
I turn to the amendments in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Jones. For disabled passengers, encountering a driver who misunderstands or ignores their needs, or who fails to provide the assistance they require, may not only prevent them boarding the respective service but potentially stop them attempting to travel by bus in the future. The noble Baroness’s amendments are intended to help prevent this, and I certainly support her aim in this regard. Bus operators should ensure that their drivers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to assist disabled customers, and I am happy to report that this already happens in the majority of cases.
There is also existing legislative provision for the situation to be improved further. In 2018, mandatory disability awareness training provisions will come into force, requiring all bus drivers to undergo disability awareness training. This obligation, as the noble Baroness acknowledged, arises from EU Regulation 2011/181. I am sure that noble Lords will appreciate that there will be means other than this Bill to address any need to ensure that these requirements continue to apply to bus operators in the UK once we leave the European Union.
The noble Baroness raised that exact point in light of the Government’s intention to focus on leaving the European Union and the negotiations that have begun with other European countries on determining our position. We recognise the importance of driver disability training and are developing guidance to help implement it. I assure the noble Baroness that we are also reviewing our European obligations and will ensure that the importance of this work is reflected as we move forward in this area.