Written question asked by Eddie McGrady (Social Democratic & Labour Party) on Thursday, 22 March 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 March 2007. It was answered by David Cairns (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 March 2007 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Taxis: Disabled

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government is taking to increase the availability of licensed disabled access taxis in Northern Ireland.

Answer: Regulations already require all Belfast Public Hire taxis to be wheelchair accessible and their numbers have increased from 239 in 2002-03 to 380 in 2005-06.In August 2006 I announced that a Door-2-Door transport scheme will operate in 27 towns and cities providing services across Northern Ireland for disabled and older people who find it difficult or impossible to use conventional public transport. This has led to the licensing of a further 25 accessible taxis, bringing the estimated total to 1,500—equivalent to approximately 14 per cent. of all licensed taxis.The draft Taxis Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 laid on 9 January contains measures intended to increase the availability of accessible taxis by requiring taxi operators to provide more taxis designed to meet the needs of older people and people with disabilities and to allow only accessible taxis to use taxi ranks. On restoration responsibility for policy and legislation on taxis will transfer to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Secondary information