03/06/08� Disabled People fight to prevent a take over�

Disabled people's organisations in Scotland have made a last ditch bid to save a representative group from being assigned by the SNP government to its 'bonfire of quangos'. �

This intention was included in the announced by the First Minister on 30th January 2008.

The Mobility & Access Committee for Scotland, known as MACS, is due for the chop at the end of this month. With a majority of disabled people as members, it has for the past 6 years been a source of information and advice on how to provide disabled people with vital transport services to realise their right to equality and social inclusion. Its members have a range of skills, knowledge and experience and act in a voluntary capacity.

Under the government's proposals, from 1st July MACS will be taken over by another advisory body, the Public Transport Users' Committee (PTUC), on which disabled people will form only a small minority. For these the opportunity to raise and follow through the issues they identify will be scaled down.�

The Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee is to consider the matter on 10th June. The Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA), Inclusion Scotland (IS) and the Scotttish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF) have witten a joint submission to the committee. It has already been welcomed by Labour and Liberal Democrat members.

Commenting on the submission, Alan Rees, Secretary of SATA, said "The loss of MACS would be a tragedy. We are hopeful that the parliament can force the government to think again. There are many ways in which MACS can work effectively with PTUC in close co-operation without this take-over."

He added, "When it was set up in 2002, MACS was a shining example to other sectors of how best to involve disabled people in public policy-making and was fully in accordance with good practice under disability rights legislation."

�

The Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA) is a user-led charity with 70 individual and corporate members providing opportunities for disabled people to engage with transport planners and operators to overcome travel barriers. Its website is www.scottishaccessibletransport.org

�

For a copy of the submission and for further information contact:

�

Alan Rees MBE
Secretary/Treasurer
SATA

Tel/fax: 0131 315 3006
E-mail: [email protected]

�

�

�

�

�