01/02/08 - Government proposes dissolution of Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland

The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland was established under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 and began its work in April 2002. Its core role is to advise Scottish Ministers on transport policy and services to meet the travel needs of disabled people in Scotland. This role mirrors that of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) in London.

The Scottish Government proposes to dissolve MACS and says its functions will be assumed by the Public Transport Users Committee or Passenger View Scotland, as it is now known.

The proposal has been received with dismay by a number of disability-led organisations, including SDEF and the Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA), who have questioned how the Government reached its decision and how it has fulfilled its obligations under the Disability Equality Duty to involve disabled people in its deliberations.

Over the past six years MACS has made a valuable contribution to achieving better access to transport for disabled people by commissioning research into demand responsive transport systems and taxicard schemes; publishing briefings on training, information and strategic transport planning; producing policy statements on concessionary travel; informing the national transport strategy, regional and local transport strategies; responding to Scottish, UK and EU consultations on personal transport, road, rail, ferry and air services; providing advice and representation to transport agencies such as Transport Scotland and operators such as ScotRail, Network Rail, CPT, BAA and CalMac; consulting with user groups of disabled people and voluntary sector organisations such as the Community Transport Association; and building a close working relationships with DPTAC and the Disability Rights Commission.

In recent times resources available to support MACS have dwindled and its effectiveness has lessened as a result. It is felt that a merger with PTUC/PVS, even if a few additional members are taken on and a sub-committee formed, will continue this decline. The proposal runs counter to the principles of the DDA and the Disability Equality Duty to increase the involvement of disabled people in public life and improve their mobility and access to transport services - now widely recognised as a fundamental need and right. Moreover PTUC/PVS, with a remit confined to public transport and to be mindful of the work of other statutory UK consumer bodies (eg on rail and air transport) does not have the scope or expertise of MACS to address a wide range of multi-modal and personal mobility issues.

According to SATA’s Alan Rees, “The decision to dissolve MACS is being justified by the Scottish Government on grounds of integration and efficiency. But the former will result in less involvement, a lower profile and poorer outcomes whilst, as a result, the latter is highly questionable. In fact the proposal will be seen by disabled people as a further move in a cost-cutting process that has already been taking place without due regard to the impact it is having or will have on their lives. And there has been no prior consultation.

“In conclusion, the decision to dissolve MACS should be opposed and reversed. Instead as an investment in the future, a new commitment should be made to give greater support to the membership and work of MACS as now constituted.”