Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted in Part
Establish an expert unit to review, benchmark, and standardise transport accessibility training packages.
Recommendation
It is not sufficient for training to be delivered on disability awareness, accessibility and preventing discrimination: the training must be of a guaranteed minimum standard and proven to be effective in improving outcomes. The Department for Transport should, with the active 76 participation of disabled people, establish an expert unit to review within 12 months the training packages currently available across modes to identify, benchmark and standardise best practice, and conduct ongoing quality assurance. (Recommendation, Paragraph 84)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees there is merit in reviewing, benchmarking, and standardising training packages across transport modes. It will work with DPTAC and disabled persons organisations to assess how this can be undertaken timely to support new statutory training requirements, though it doesn't commit to establishing a dedicated expert unit.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
To understand what works best and is most likely to impart a lasting awareness and understanding of accessibility amongst operator management and staff, the Department agrees that there is merit in reviewing the training packages and practices currently available across modes, such as the Department’s REAL Disability Equality Training Programme, to identify, benchmark and standardise best practice. The Department will work with DPTAC to assess how this work could be undertaken in a timely manner with the active participation of disabled persons organisations and input from operators and industry bodies such as the Bus Centre of Excellence, the Rail Delivery Group, and Confederation of Passenger Transport. The output of this work will support the legislative and statutory measures the Department is taking to improve operator and staff awareness, including new statutory training requirements being introduced by the Bus Services Bill.