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Transport Scotland
Core Functions of Agency
Transport Scotland, established in January 2006, is the new national transport agency for Scotland. Transport Scotland plays a key part in improving and expanding Scotland's public transport infrastructure and in promoting transport integration. The Agency is responsible for the rail and trunk road networks and oversees their operation and management. The Agency also supports the delivery of the programme of current and future major infrastructure projects for road and rail; has established and is running the new Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people from spring 2006; and oversees the provision of impartial travel information services and support the increased provision of integrated tickets.
Agency Priorities in 2006-2009
- ensuring that Scotland's trunk road and railway systems are managed efficiently, effectively and economically;
- establishing and running the national concessionary travel schemes;
- delivering the Scottish Executive's committed programme of enhancements to Scotland's rail and trunk road infrastructure; and
- helping to build Scotland's National Transport Strategy by setting investment priorities for tomorrow's rail and trunk road networks.
Agency Statement of Objectives/Aims to Advance Disability Equality
Transport Scotland will continue to promote the advancement of disability equality by ensuring that our main-stream policy initiatives and programmes take cognisance of the needs of disabled individuals. We will ensure that disabled people are involved in the development and implementation of policy and programme initiatives and that the delivery of such initiatives are targeted to ensure disabled people are aware of and can take full advantage of opportunities available. The key policy areas below have nearly all been developed with input and involvement from disabled people through their appropriate representatives groups.
Transport Scotland
Disability Equality Duty Action Plan
Key policy areas where the agency is or will take forward disability equality. |
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Policy | Action | By whom | By when | Expected outcome |
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New Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people from spring 2006 | Established scheme and currently operating it. Will jointly monitor its operation with Transport Group. | Concessionary Fares Unit | Spring 2006 | Increased uptake by disabled people of the free bus scheme. Improving access and integration. |
Scottish Trunk Road Disability Equality Strategy & Action Plan | Currently being developed (Inception Report complete; literature review underway and a sample audit of the trunk road network). Working Group has been established including external stakeholders. | TRIPS: Standards Traffic & Environment Branch | End 2006 | Action Plan for next 3 years to improve disabled access to trunk roads. |
Railways for All Strategy (DfT) & Roll-out of Access for All Funding Stream (Transport Scotland) | Transport Scotland are continuing the roll-out of the Access for All funding stream including the selection of stations for future access development. The Mobility Access Committee Scotland ( MACS) and DPTAC will be consulted on future priorities. | Strategy & Investment Directorate | Ongoing | Improved rail station access for disabled people, the elderly, and people with luggage. |
Establishment of a Scottish Rail Accessibility Forum and associated programme of work. | The Forum is currently being established (1st Meeting in November 2006) and will bring together representatives of the Scottish rail industry and disability representative organisations in Scotland to discuss and advise Transport Scotland on disability related issues. | Strategy & Investment Directorate | Ongoing | The rail sector in Scotland will be able to better support disabled people to use its services and Transport Scotland will be able to advise Dept for Transport on issues of concern. |
Code of Practice on Train and Station Services for Disabled Passengers | Consulting, along with Dept for Transport, on a revised Code of Practice, aligning it with the new Technical Standard for Interoperability for Persons of Reduced Mobility, and whether there is a need for a separate Scottish code. DPTAC are part of the Technical Policy Group advising DfT/ TS and the SRAF will be involved. | Strategy & Investment Directorate | End 2007 | Consistent standards across the rail sector will help disabled people access the rail network. |
Through the Franchise Agreement we oblige First Scotrail to undertake a range of activities with respect to station accessibility. | Range of activity here. | Rail Delivery | Ongoing | Increased train accessibility and use by disabled people. |
Arrangements for delivering the general duty to promote disability equality |
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Policy | Action | By whom | By when | Expected outcome |
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1. What arrangements will you put in place to ensure that the policies you develop and/or the services you provide pay due regard to the need to eliminate any unlawful discrimination against disabled people? | Make sure all staff are trained in disability equality All policy teams to use equality impact assessment tool as part of policy proofing stage All policy teams to engage with disabled individuals in policy planning stage (as appropriate) | All directorates | Annual review | No case of alleged discrimination being brought to group More positive feedback to group re: uptake of provision by disabled people. |
2. What arrangements will you put in place to ensure that the policies you develop and/or the services you provide are able to pay due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between disabled and non-disabled persons? | Embed a question in all new consultations (where appropriate) about equality. | All directorates | Annual Review | More disabled people using the services we provided. |
Incorporate impact assessment tools in option appraisals for ministers and look to see if the accessibility section in the current Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance needs to be enhanced Continue to and expand collection of data relating to the use of our networks by disabled people. | TEAR |
3. What arrangements will you put in place to ensure that the policies you develop and/or the services you provide are able to pay due regard to the need to eliminate any harassment of disabled people, related to their disability? | Make sure all staff are trained in disability equality | Chief Executive | Annual Review | Increased uptake of our services by disabled people and increased levels of customer satisfaction. |
All teams to incorporate impact assessment tool in early option appraisals with a specific view to highlighting potential areas of discrimination Include a specific question around evidence of discrimination within all policy/programme evaluations | All Directors |
4. What arrangements will you put in place to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people? | All policy teams to involve (where possible) disabled people in stakeholder representation and liaison. | All Directorates | Annual Review | More positive attitudes generally to disabled people. |
Positively encourage the appointment of disabled people to public positions and as representatives on advisory groups. All key Transport Scotland outputs to be policy proofed to ensure positive promotion of attitudes to disability in their communications strategies/(ministerial) speeches/presentations. | Communications Transport Scotland |
5. What action will you take to encourage the participation of disabled people in public life? | Disabled peoples' representative groups are on the Scottish Rail Accessibility Forum and the Working Group for the Scottish Trunk Road Disability Equality Strategy & Action Plan. We will build on this good foundation and positively encourage the appointment of disabled people to apply for public positions and as representatives on advisory groups. | Chief Executive Directors | Annual Review | increased number of disabled people in public appointments or on advisory groups. |
6. How will you ensure that disabled people are involved in the development of your department's policies and activities? | All policy development and implementation teams to ensure (where possible) disabled people are actively involved in part of the planning phase as well as consultation phase. | All Directorates | Annual Review | Policy teams successfully reporting the involvement of disabled people in policy development and implementation. |
7. What arrangements will you put in place to ensure that we are able to report on progress on an annual basis? | Progress against the above will be reported annually to the Transport Scotland Board and each Directorate may undertake more frequent audits. | All Directorates | Annual Review | Embedded process to ensure thorough monitoring and reporting on activity. |
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