Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Acknowledged
Amend Bill to include a mechanism for assessing GBR's passenger interest duty.
Recommendation
We are concerned that there is no specific mechanism to assess GBR’s performance against the passenger interest duty placed on it by the Bill. The standards set by the Passengers’ Council will be part of GBR’s licence, enforced by the ORR. The Bill should also contain a mechanism for performance against the relevant standards to be taken into account by a court making a judgment on whether the duty to promote the interests of users in clause 18(2)a has been met. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation, stating the duty at clause 18(2)(a) of the Bill will require the sector bodies to promote the interests of passengers. It notes that accessibility duties will support some of the requirements under the reasonable adjustments duty at section 20 of the Equality Act 2010.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government agrees with this recommendation. The duty at clause 18(2)(a) of the Bill will require the sector bodies to promote the interests of passengers, including in particular the needs of disabled persons when these bodies exercise their statutory functions. Therefore, the accessibility duty will independently support some of the requirements under the reasonable adjustments duty at section 20 of the Equality Act 2010. Naturally, the sector bodies will also consider and apply the relevant duties under the Equalities Act 2010 separately and in addition to the accessibility duty. This relationship is set out in the Equality Impact Assessment which the Government has recently published, following our commitment to the Committee to do so before Report Stage. Access