6. Debate on the Petitions Committee's report on Disabled People's Access to Public Transport

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:21 pm on 31 January 2018.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 5:21, 31 January 2018

Oh, absolutely. It's not just about turning up and being trained. It's about making sure that you apply what you are trained to do on a daily basis and that we actually use training as a means of delivering a cultural change in the way that transport is accessed and the way that transport is provided.

But, the objectives that I've outlined in December, and also the actions underpinning them, have been designed by my accessible transport panel, which comprises organisations representing disabled people, older people and people with learning disabilities, and of course with equality groups. So, I'm confident that the training that will be provided will be not just adequate, but of the best standard possible. I'm also pleased that Whizz-Kids have contributed to this work. 

To take up just a number of points in addition that have been raised, what David Rowlands and Janet Finch-Saunders said about on-demand travel, I think, is absolutely essential in order to ensure that people can live the most independent lives possible. I think what Mike Hedges and Rhun ap Iorwerth talked about, concerning the threat of living a life that leaves you isolated and lonely, is very real for many people. I was at an event just last Friday, hosted by Citizens Advice, that looked at how transport, better connectivity, can be used to tackle poverty, particularly in rural areas, and especially in rural areas where there are people who have limited mobility. It goes back to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. If you're not connected to people and services, then you're more likely to live a life that is distressed and unhealthy, and therefore contributes to strains on the NHS and also prevents the economy from growing as we'd wish. 

Also, in terms of audiovisual next-stop announcements, this was something that was raised particularly by Janet Finch-Saunders. This is a position that we have all taken—the position that's outlined in the recommendation—and I believe that it should not be open for negotiation whatsoever. What we use in terms of the bus services support grant is designed not only to improve the quality of bus services for some passengers, it's designed and should be used to improve the quality of services for all passengers. So, those improvements to audiovisual next-stop announcements should and must be pursued by all service operators that are applying for bus services support grant funding.

Deputy Presiding Officer, I do think that now is the time to put our words into action, and now is the time to deliver an accessible and inclusive public transport system that the people of Wales have a right to expect. And now is the time, I think, for us collectively to prevent any person from being left stranded or humiliated by the failure of transport to adapt to the needs of all passengers in the twenty-first century.