Current Petitions

Our next petition is PE695, which calls on the Scottish Parliament to ensure that local authorities make available affordable and accessible local transport to disabled people who cannot use public transport and asks that ring-fenced funding be provided to allow local authority and/or community groups to establish dial-a-ride projects for that purpose.At its meeting on 7 January 2004, the committee agreed to write to the Executive to seek its comments on the issues raised in the petition and to say that it would welcome further details of the measures that the Executive was taking to promote accessible transport schemes for people with disabilities, especially in urban areas. In particular, the committee requested details of any plans to roll out to other areas the pilot schemes that operate in Angus and Aberdeenshire or to provide funding to ensure that local authorities provide dial-a-bus, dial-a-ride and other relevant services. The committee has received a response from the Scottish Executive, in which it states:"Under the Partnership Agreement the Executive is committed to assessing improved public transport concessions for people with disabilities."Do members have views on the response?

Perhaps we could obtain some other stakeholders' views. The committee could invite the Disability Rights Commission Scotland and the Scottish Disability Equality Forum to say whether disability issues have been addressed. That would help.

Are members happy to do that?

We will reply to them with the responses. Is that agreed?Members indicated agreement.