Last Friday I spotted that three 3 MPs had asked the Government for involvement in Audio Visual in buses for disabled people and my blog on that theme can be obtained from here. As I stated then it was very interesting to read these questions from MPs and the answers from the Minister. I am involved in an Audio Visual Company based in Sussex which is called Ashdown Audio Visual and we would be delighted to work with Bus Companies across Sussex, Surrey and Kent if they would like to include this technology or indeed we would be happy to discuss with people in the community. Indeed we can offer a wide range of Audio Visual elements for people including for disabled locations. It then happened today that I spotted that there were three other MPs who have asked the same sort of requirements this week. The Labour MP for Barnsley East is Stephanie Peacock and she wrote these two questions and they were both responded by Richard Holden on Tuesday. Then Julian Sturdy who is the MP for York Outer wrote a question and his question was answered on Wednesday by Richard. Finally there was a call on Friday from Rupa Huq, the Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton which is here. All of these questions and answers from these three MPs and the response from the Minister are below. It will be interesting to see what the Government will do in the future.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport:

what recent progress his Department has made on installing audio-visual announcements in buses.

whether her Department takes steps to ensure that audio-visual announcements on buses are available for those who require them and not turned down or off.

Richard Holden: There has been progress in increasing the number of vehicles on which audible and visible information is provided. Since 2016/17, the percentage of buses using an Audio-Visual information system to provide route, direction, next stop and diversion information to passengers has almost doubled, from 18% to 34% in 2020/21 across Great Britain. However, there is a large variation in usage by region. At present there is no legal requirement for operators to provide audible and visible information or to maintain volume levels at a particular level. However, we plan to require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain, and intend to introduce the Accessible Information Regulations shortly. The Regulations will incorporate requirements to ensure that audible information can be heard by passengers.

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to require buses to display audio-visual passenger information for people with sight and hearing loss.

Richard Holden: We plan to require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain, and will introduce the Accessible Information Regulations shortly.

Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to increase the provision of audio-visual announcements on local bus services for blind and partially sighted people.

Richard Holden: We plan to require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain and intend to introduce the Accessible Information Regulations shortly.