The Government is committed to improving accessibility across the rail network and recognises that level boarding is an essential ingredient of this. We are developing a long-term integrated rolling stock and infrastructure strategy for the first time in over 30 years. The strategy will place the needs of passengers at its heart and set out Great British Railways' expected future rolling stock requirements and how they can best be met and delivered. We anticipate the strategy will set out how we move forward with level boarding. It will then be for Great British Railways to determine the specific design and engineering solutions to deliver this.

The existing security and access arrangements have been developed to allow Members to move around and between parts of the Estate safely. Black Rod’s Office will continue to monitor this situation, working with security officers and the Metropolitan Police to ensure that these arrangements are operating as intended. Black Rod would welcome any further details on this matter.

The planned works to install pass readers and door automation were not able to be completed during the summer recess due to previously unidentified void spaces and encaustic tiles under the doors. The hidden voids were not visible in the pre-installation surveys that were undertaken.

I am informed that the Strategic Estates project team is engaging with teams across the House of Lords to identify the appropriate resolution to ensure the appropriate balance of accessibility, security, heritage, and value for money considerations. The House of Lords Services Committee were last updated on the project on Tuesday 9 September, following a Paper on Tuesday 24 June, and an update on the Automated Doors will be given by the Clerk of the Parliaments at the next meeting of the Commission on Wednesday 17 September.

Level access onto trains brings a range of benefits and enables easier journeys for passengers with different access requirements. The government has committed to develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure, which will look at and consider the issue of level access as part of this work.

The Government appreciates how frustrating the issue of the difference in platform-to-train gap can be for passengers with disabilities and we remain committed to ensuring that all passengers have the same opportunities to travel on the rail network.

Gaps can vary at stations across the network, due to both the design of the station and the platforms at the time of construction, sometimes more than a hundred years ago. It also has to vary according to the type of services which use the line, for example, high-speed, commuter and freight trains.

The rail industry takes several approaches to improving the stepping distance between platform and train, for example the Department for Transport has funded a number of raised sections of platforms across the country to provide level boarding on to trains e.g. Harrington, Whaley Bridge and Ty Croes. However, these may not be suitable for all locations.

There are also 378 carriages forming 58 trains currently in service with Greater Anglia that have lower floor sections with in-built ramps. Under delivery are a further 133 carriages forming 35 trains for Transport for Wales and 208 carriages forming 54 trains for Merseyrail, all of which have in-built ramps.

The Passenger Assistance lounge at Euston station, which is usually staffed with at least three assistants, is equipped with six wheelchairs to help passengers from the drop-off point at the taxi-rank to the lounge. Passengers who have pre-booked their assistance can be met at the drop-off point by staff with a wheelchair. If a passenger hasn’t pre-booked, they can contact the passenger assistance lounge using the help point at the taxi rank and be collected. The help point at the taxi-rank is fully operational.

The distance from the Passenger Assistance lounge to the parked buggies at Euston Station is around 15 metres. To help passengers from the lounge to the buggies, Network Rail can provide passengers with wheelchairs, or take them by the arm for support, depending on their needs. In some cases, when the station is quiet, staff can drive the buggy to the entrance of the Passenger Assistance lounge to make this journey shorter.

The buggies have barriers by the rear seats for the safety of riding passengers, reducing the risk of passengers falling.

For the safety of passengers, buggy drivers are instructed to take passengers under the concourse to services on platforms 1 and 2. This is to reduce the amount of congestion on the concourse where passengers are waiting, departing or arriving.

No such estimate has been made and nor do we hold data on the number of wheelchair users affected in this way.

We are committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to live independent lives. In the Levelling-Up White Paper we announced that the UK Government will provide £1.3bn over the Spending Review 2021 period to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. This includes Access to Work: a demand-led, discretionary grant intended to support disabled people to move into and sustain paid employment by providing a contribution to the costs of overcoming workplace barriers. The grant is not means tested and can contribute to the disability related extra costs in the workplace that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments.

In 2017 the Government set a goal to see a million more disabled people in employment between 2017 and 2027. The latest figures released for Q1 (January to March) 2022 show that between Q1 2017 and Q1 2022 the number of disabled people in employment increased by 1.3m – meaning the goal has been met after five years.

No such estimate has been made and nor do we hold data on the number of wheelchair users affected in this way.

We are committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to live independent lives. In the Levelling-Up White Paper we announced that the UK Government will provide £1.3bn over the Spending Review 2021 period to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. This includes Access to Work: a demand-led, discretionary grant intended to support disabled people to move into and sustain paid employment by providing a contribution to the costs of overcoming workplace barriers. The grant is not means tested and can contribute to the disability related extra costs in the workplace that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments.

In 2017 the Government set a goal to see a million more disabled people in employment between 2017 and 2027. The latest figures released for Q1 (January to March) 2022 show that between Q1 2017 and Q1 2022 the number of disabled people in employment increased by 1.3m – meaning the goal has been met after five years.

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. For existing premises, everyone can expect goods and service providers, i.e. occupiers, to anticipate making reasonable adjustments and everyone has the option of support when making a claim if they face a physical barrier

Building Regulations require reasonable provision is made for access in all new buildings. Provisions for wheelchair users to access new public buildings, including shops and pubs, are described in the Building Regulations’ statutory guidance, Approved Document M, Volume 2 which is available (attached) at the following: Approved Document M: access to and use of buildings, volume 2: buildings other than dwellings

A full review of Part M of the Building Regulations is underway, relating to access to, and use of, buildings. It includes a research programme on the prevalence and demographics of impairment in England and ergonomic requirements of wheelchair users and experiences of disabled people. Evidence gathered will help government consider what changes can be made, including updates to statutory guidance. At present however, no change in the Equality Act 2010 of the sort mentioned in my Noble Friend’s question is envisaged. For service providers the reasonable adjustment duty in the Act is of course anticipatory, which means that those who provide services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require to ensure the disabled person does not experience a substantial disadvantage compared to their non-disabled counterparts.

A full review of Part M of the Building Regulations is underway, relating to access to, and use of, buildings. It includes a research programme on the prevalence and demographics of impairment in England and ergonomic requirements of wheelchair users and experiences of disabled people. Evidence gathered will help government consider what changes can be made, including updates to statutory guidance. At present however, no change in the Equality Act 2010 of the sort mentioned in my Noble Friend’s question is envisaged. For service providers the reasonable adjustment duty in the Act is of course anticipatory, which means that those who provide services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require to ensure the disabled person does not experience a substantial disadvantage compared to their non-disabled counterparts.

As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies including the security of their buildings. The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament scrutinises the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of the intelligence agencies on behalf of Parliament.

As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies including the security of their buildings. The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament scrutinises the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of the intelligence agencies on behalf of Parliament.

The Government last made an estimate of the wheelchair accessibility of service providers in 2014 and there are no plans to conduct a further study at present.

The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold current data on the number of accessible shops; however, all new building works are required to meet accessibility standards and these apply to all new buildings owned or managed by service providers.

The county court central case management system does not hold the information requested, which could only be obtained from the paper records of each county court.

It is for a person who believes they have been subject to discrimination because of disability (including a failure to provide reasonable adjustments, such as access ramps) to decide whether or not to bring a case to court. Government does not seek to advise individuals about specific courses of action when pursuing a particular claim.

If an individual does wish to consider pursuing a claim, there are organisations and groups that are available to help disabled people through this process through either advice or direct support. For example, if someone has a complaint against a specific service provider, they may seek advice from the Equality Advisory and Support Service which provides bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination problems.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has powers to enforce compliance with the Equality Act 2010, including those provisions relating to disability discrimination and reasonable adjustments.

There are no plans to conduct a further study with DisabledGo at this time and DCLG have no current data on the number of accessible shops.

Earlier this year the Minister for Disabled People appointed a number of Sector Champions to help tackle the issues disabled people face as consumers. The champions represent a range of different sectors and businesses, including retail (Helen Drury) and tourism (Chris Veitch). The Champions are using their influential status as leaders to drive improvements to the accessibility and quality of services and facilities for disabled people.

On 27 November the Minister will be hosting a round table with the Retail Sector Champion and leaders of large retail companies to discuss accessibility in the retail industry.

There is not a requirement to modify all UK platforms to meet a height of 915 mm but if upgrade work is carried out this is currently the applicable height. For platforms on new railways, such as HS2, this height may be too low to facilitate level boarding and the application of alternative heights is being considered.

Taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) play an important role in enabling disabled people to complete door-to-door journeys independently, and it is essential that they are accessible to those needing to use them.

Local licensing authorities already have powers to determine the categories of vehicle included in their fleets, and we encourage them to ensure a range of passengers are catered for. Whilst wheelchair accessible vehicles are vital for some passengers, for some ambulant disabled people they can be difficult to access. As such we encourage authorities to consider the needs of all potential passengers when determining the make-up of their taxi and PHV fleets.

We currently have no plans to set minimum quotas for wheelchair accessible vehicles.