DISABLED ACCESS AT RAILWAY STATIONS

Early day motion 955, tabled 11 July 2000 by Clive Efford (Labour). Signed by 136 members.

That this House notes that licensed taxis play a vital role in the public transport network by providing a link between transport interchanges and the passenger's final destination; welcomes the fact that already in London and some other metropolitan districts all licensed taxis are wheelchair accessible and that, in due course, in the rest of the country they will be required to be accessible under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; is concerned that at present there is no statutory requirement that licensed taxis have access to railway stations' forecourts, and in some stations, such as Cambridge and Eastbourne, that licensed taxis have been excluded from forecourts; believes that all passengers, including the elderly and disabled, should have the opportunity to complete their journey in a licensed taxi that provides the passenger with the security of a regulated fare and complete accessibility; and calls upon the Government to take action to ensure that wheelchair users and other passengers have guaranteed access to a rank of licensed taxis at all railway station forecourts.

Signatures by party: Labour 103, Liberal Democrat 17, Labour/Co-operative 10, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.