Member

I will address together the broader accessibility amendments from the noble Baroness, Lady Grender, and the noble Lord, Lord Holmes of Richmond; they seek to restate general duties, to require additional consultation or to impose new statutory frameworks. Regulation 1107 already places enforceable obligations on airlines and airports, overseen by the CAA. Both the department and the CAA are subject to the public sector equality duty. Consultation with disabled passengers already takes place through the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, the Aviation Accessibility Implementation Group and the CAA’s consumer panel. The UK also plays an active role internationally through the International Civil Aviation Organization. As I have previously said, I will discuss what else we can do in this respect. Therefore, these amendments risk duplication, uncertainty and, in some cases, inappropriate liability on government for outcomes delivered by private operators, so I ask that they not be pressed.