Hansard

Thank you, convener. I am pleased to be here to discuss this important issue with the committee. The amalgamation of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and the Public Transport Users Committee for Scotland seeks to integrate and mainstream disability and accessibility issues into one high-level organisation.The enlarged passenger transport users committee will represent all public transport users in Scotland and will have particular regard to disability and accessibility issues. The amalgamation is not intended to reduce our financial support for the relevant issues.Members of the public may view a single, integrated body as more effective and less confusing than having several bodies responsible for the views of all transport users in Scotland. The current number of bodies in the public sector landscape leads to duplication and potential loss of focus. Through the merger, and the subsequent creation of a mobility and access sub-committee within the passenger transport users committee, we will create a more prominent body that will be in a far better position to influence the development of transport policy.I turn now to the two Scottish statutory instruments. The Public Transport Users' Committee for Scotland Amendment Order 2008 (SSI 2008/186) will increase the number of members on PTUC from 12 to 15. It also prescribes that at least three of the members must be disabled persons, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. There is no upper limit to the number of disabled persons who can serve on the committee. In time, when members' appointments end, it is likely that the number of disabled persons serving on the committee will increase.The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland Revocation Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/187) will be revoked, but the functions and responsibilities of MACS will remain in their entirety. It is a fact that PTUC already has responsibility for advising ministers on the views of public transport users on all matters, including mobility and accessibility issues.I know that there are X number of MACS members who believe that the move will dilute the voice of the disabled. However, the integration of functions will significantly strengthen the voice of disabled people in transport policy making, with the requirement for PTUC to have disabled members. In addition, a sub-committee will be created that will draw in non-PTUC members without having to go through the formal appointment process and without having to involve ministers. They will be much more masters and mistresses of their own destiny.I recently met the convener of PTUC, James King, who is with us today. He confirmed that he expects the convener of the sub-committee to be one of the newly appointed disabled persons. A wide-ranging consultation that sought views from stakeholders, including many organisations that represent disability and mobility interests, was carried out between December 2005 and March 2006. The consultation asked for views on whether, as part of the option to have an integrated high-level committee, the functions of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland should be incorporated into PTUC. Comments were received from 74 respondents, the majority of whom were in favour of an integrated high-level committee.There are others who say that the PTUC remit does not cover all the functions that the MACS remit covers, but one of PTUC's duties is to handle bus complaints that have not been fully resolved by operators. That will include complaints from disabled passengers who will now, through the merger, have an opportunity to be involved in decision making in respect of those complaints. That will give all bus passengers a body to handle their complaints.MACS and PTUC met in March and plan to meet again on 17 June to ensure that there is continuity between the activities of MACS and those of the new, merged PTUC. I have asked PTUC to check whether any activities that are being carried out by MACS are not within PTUC's remit. If it finds any such matters, those can be addressed in a letter from the Scottish ministers, under section 42(2) of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005, to the convener of PTUC, asking it to consider and make representations to the Scottish ministers on such matters. The convener of PTUC assured me that he would write to me if he felt that PTUC was constrained in carrying out any of its duties.PTUC has also spoken to the United Kingdom body, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, about working in partnership. I have already discussed with the convener of PTUC the development of an outcomes-based approach to assist in the delivery of our ambitions for Scotland's public services. I have examined the remits of both organisations and feel that, now that the national transport strategy is embedded, the time is right to amalgamate the two bodies.I welcome this opportunity to discuss the rights of disabled people in relation to transport and broader access issues and to explain the rationale behind our proposals. It would be very disappointing if the disabled were denied a statutory right to be part of PTUC. That would send entirely the wrong signal to the disabled about the importance that we place on their interests and on mainstream organisations such as PTUC having continuously to account for their needs. Accordingly, I hope that, after debate, these issues are not pressed to a vote. I am happy to answer any questions on either SSI or on the broader issues that they raise.