Implementation of S167 lists of taxis - Previously A

The request was successful.

Dear St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council,

I am writing this Freedom of Information Request in relation to your Council's compliance or otherwise with the Government's statutory guidance on implementation of S165-167 of the Equality Act, relating to taxi services for wheelchair users. All taxi licensing bodies are obliged under S167(6) to have "due regard" to the document "Access for wheelchair users to taxis and private hire vehicles: statutory guidance" at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy... . The questions I raise below should be interpreted as requests for recorded information under the Freedom of Information Act.

I have previously made two similar requests to you, one in April 2017 and one in November 2017. I am now requesting an update to assess the impact of implementing this legislation, 12 months after it was commenced. Please note: this request is not identical to my previous requests and in any case asks for updated information as of the time of sending the request. It is therefore not appropriate to respond simply "see previous answer" or "situation unchanged".

In response to my previous FOI request on similar matters in November 2017, you indicated that you had implemented a S167 list.

1) The Government guidance states: "Whilst LAs are under no specific legal obligation to maintain a list under section 167, the Government recommends strongly that they do so. Without such a list the requirements of section 165 of the Act do not apply, and drivers may continue to refuse the carriage of wheelchair users, fail to provide them with assistance, or to charge them extra."
Please can you indicate whether you still have a list of wheelchair accessible taxis under your powers set out in Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010, and/or a list of wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles?

2) If so, please provide information in response to the following questions 2a) to 2i):
2a) The statutory guidance states "The Government therefore recommends that a vehicle should only be included in the authority’s (S167) list if it would be possible for the user of a “reference wheelchair” to enter, leave and travel in the passenger compartment in safety and reasonable comfort whilst seated in their wheelchair."
Is this the definition you have used for a taxi or PHV to be considered wheelchair accessible for the purposes of the list?

2b) The statutory guidance states: "Before drivers can be subject to the duties under section 165 of the Act, the LA must first publish their list of designated vehicles, and clearly mark it as ‘designated for the purposes of section 165 of the Act’. LAs should ensure that their designated lists are made easily available to passengers, and that vehicle owners and drivers are made aware. Lists should set out the details of the make and model of the vehicle, together with specifying whether the vehicle is a taxi or private hire vehicle, and stating the name of operator."
Have you published your list? Is it marked "designated for the purposes of Section 165 of the Act"? Is the make and model of each vehicle listed? Is each vehicle identified as a taxi or a private hire vehicle? Is the name of the operator of each vehicle given in the list? Have you made owners and drivers of vehicles on the list aware that their vehicle has been listed?

2c) The guidance states: "it would also be helpful to include information about the size and weight of wheelchair that can be accommodated, and whether wheelchairs that are larger than a “reference wheelchair” can be accommodated."
Does your list include information on each vehicle as to the size and weight of wheelchair that can be accommodated, and whether wheelchairs larger than a "reference wheelchair" can be accommodated?

2d) The guidance states: "We encourage LAs to provide drivers of taxis and PHVs who are not exempt from the duties with clear guidance on their duties with respect to the carriage of passengers in wheelchairs, either as part of existing driver-facing guidance, or as supplementary communication."
Have you provided non-exempt taxi/PHV drivers with such guidance?

2e) The guidance states: "We recommend that licensing authority rules for drivers are updated to make clear when a meter can and cannot be left running".
Have you updated such rules to make this clear?

2f) The guidance states: "Section 172 of the Act enables vehicle owners to appeal against the decision of a LA to include their vehicles on the designated list. That appeal should be made to the Magistrate’s Court, or in Scotland the sheriff, and must be made within 28 days of the vehicle in question being included on the LA’s published list."
Please tell me how many such applications have been made to the Magistrates Court, and how many have been successful.

2g) How many drivers has the authority prosecuted for discriminatory behaviour contrary to S165 of the Act? How many such prosecutions were successful? What were the sentences?

2h) How many drivers licensed by yourselves have been prosecuted by other people or bodies for failure to comply with S165 of the Act? How many such prosecutions were successful? What were the sentences?

2i) Where drivers have been prosecuted under S165 of the Act, thus affecting their standing as a "fit and proper person", what resultant disciplinary action have you taken in respect of their taxi or private hire vehicle drivers' licenses?

3) Since 2010 you have been obliged to process applications under Section 166 of the Equality Act for driver medical exemptions from the duty to transport and not discriminate against wheelchair users. The Guidance states; "the Act allows LAs to grant exemptions from the duties to individual drivers. These provisions are contained in section 166, and were commenced on 1st October 2010."

3a) How many exemptions have you granted under S166 of the Equality Act 2010?

3b) The guidance states: "We understand that some licensing authorities have already put in place procedures for accessing and exempting drivers, and as an absolute minimum, we think that the evidence provided should be in the form of a letter or report from a general practitioner."
Do you accept or require a letter or report from a GP to process applications for driver exemption under S166?

3c) The guidance states: "The Government’s view is that decisions on exemptions will be fairer and more objective if medical assessments are undertaken by professionals who have been specifically trained and who are independent of the applicant. We would recommend that independent medical assessors are used where a long-term exemption is to be issued, and that LAs use assessors who hold appropriate professional qualifications and who are not open to bias because of a personal or commercial connection to the applicant"
Have you appointed independent medical assessors to determine applications for medical exemption under S166?

3d) Please provide a copy of your application form for driver exemption under S166.

3e) The guidance states: "Section 172 of the Act enables drivers to appeal against the decision of a LA not to issue an exemption certificate. That appeal should be made to the Magistrate’s Court, or a sheriff in Scotland, and must be made within 28 days beginning with the date of the refusal."
How many appeals against refusal to issue S166 exemptions have been heard?

3f) How many appeals against refusal to issue S166 exemptions were successful?

4) The guidance states: "We would therefore recommend that LAs also publish a list of vehicles that are accessible to passengers in wheelchairs who are able to transfer from their wheelchair into a seat within the vehicle. It should be made clear however that this list of vehicles has not been published for the purposes of section 165 of the Act and drivers of those vehicles are therefore not subject to the legal duties to provide assistance."
Do you currently publish a list of vehicles that are accessible to passengers in wheelchairs who are able to transfer from their wheelchairs into a seat within the vehicle?

Yours faithfully,

Doug Paulley

Contact Centre, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Doug Paulley

Thank you for your recent request for information, which will be treated
as a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental
Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Your enquiry has been given a reference number 20180503-00055-1. Please
quote this reference in any future correspondence with us concerning this
matter.

If the information you are requesting falls under EIR (see [1]here for
more details) then a charge may be applicable in line with [2]guidance
from the Information Commissioner's Office. Once your request has been
reviewed you will be informed of an appropriate charge that may be
applied.

In accordance with the Act, a response will be sent to you within 20
working days from the date following the receipt of the request or receipt
of an applicable payment.

Kind regards,
St. Helens Council
01744 676789

------------------------ Original Email -------------- Received On:
02/05/2018 23:59:02 GDT
Subject:Freedom of Information request - Implementation of S167 lists of
taxis - Previously A

Dear St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, I am writing this Freedom of
Information Request in relation to your Council's compliance or otherwise
with the Government's statutory guidance on implementation of S165-167 of
the Equality Act, relating to taxi services for wheelchair users. All taxi
licensing bodies are obliged under S167(6) to have "due regard" to the
document "Access for wheelchair users to taxis and private hire vehicles:
statutory guidance" at
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...
/access-for-wheelchair-users-taxis-and-private-hire-vehicles.pdf . The
questions I raise below should be interpreted as requests for recorded
information under the Freedom of Information Act. I have previously made
two similar requests to you, one in April 2017 and one in November 2017. I
am now requesting an update to assess the impact of implementing this
legislation, 12 months after it was commenced. Please note: this request
is not identical to my previous requests and in any case asks for updated
information as of the time of sending the request. It is therefore not
appropriate to respond simply "see previous answer" or "situation
unchanged". In response to my previous FOI request on similar matters in
November 2017, you indicated that you had implemented a S167 list. 1) The
Government guidance states: "Whilst LAs are under no specific legal
obligation to maintain a list under section 167, the Government recommends
strongly that they do so. Without such a list the requirements of section
165 of the Act do not apply, and drivers may continue to refuse the
carriage of wheelchair users, fail to provide them with assistance, or to
charge them extra." Please can you indicate whether you still have a list
of wheelchair accessible taxis under your powers set out in Section 167 of
the Equality Act 2010, and/or a list of wheelchair accessible private hire
vehicles? 2) If so, please provide information in response to the
following questions 2a) to 2i): 2a) The statutory guidance states "The
Government therefore recommends that a vehicle should only be included in
the authorityb .s (S167) list if it would be possible for the user of a b
.reference wheelchairb . to enter, leave and travel in the passenger
compartment in safety and reasonable comfort whilst seated in their
wheelchair." Is this the definition you have used for a taxi or PHV to be
considered wheelchair accessible for the purposes of the list? 2b) The
statutory guidance states: "Before drivers can be subject to the duties
under section 165 of the Act, the LA must first publish their list of
designated vehicles, and clearly mark it as b .designated for the purposes
of section 165 of the Actb .. LAs should ensure that their designated
lists are made easily available to passengers, and that vehicle owners and
drivers are made aware. Lists should set out the details of the make and
model of the vehicle, together with specifying whether the vehicle is a
taxi or private hire vehicle, and stating the name of operator." Have you
published your list? Is it marked "designated for the purposes of Section
165 of the Act"? Is the make and model of each vehicle listed? Is each
vehicle identified as a taxi or a private hire vehicle? Is the name of the
operator of each vehicle given in the list? Have you made owners and
drivers of vehicles on the list aware that their vehicle has been listed?
2c) The guidance states: "it would also be helpful to include information
about the size and weight of wheelchair that can be accommodated, and
whether wheelchairs that are larger than a b .reference wheelchairb . can
be accommodated." Does your list include information on each vehicle as to
the size and weight of wheelchair that can be accommodated, and whether
wheelchairs larger than a "reference wheelchair" can be accommodated? 2d)
The guidance states: "We encourage LAs to provide drivers of taxis and
PHVs who are not exempt from the duties with clear guidance on their
duties with respect to the carriage of passengers in wheelchairs, either
as part of existing driver-facing guidance, or as supplementary
communication." Have you provided non-exempt taxi/PHV drivers with such
guidance? 2e) The guidance states: "We recommend that licensing authority
rules for drivers are updated to make clear when a meter can and cannot be
left running". Have you updated such rules to make this clear? 2f) The
guidance states: "Section 172 of the Act enables vehicle owners to appeal
against the decision of a LA to include their vehicles on the designated
list. That appeal should be made to the Magistrateb .s Court, or in
Scotland the sheriff, and must be made within 28 days of the vehicle in
question being included on the LAb .s published list." Please tell me how
many such applications have been made to the Magistrates Court, and how
many have been successful. 2g) How many drivers has the authority
prosecuted for discriminatory behaviour contrary to S165 of the Act? How
many such prosecutions were successful? What were the sentences? 2h) How
many drivers licensed by yourselves have been prosecuted by other people
or bodies for failure to comply with S165 of the Act? How many such
prosecutions were successful? What were the sentences? 2i) Where drivers
have been prosecuted under S165 of the Act, thus affecting their standing
as a "fit and proper person", what resultant disciplinary action have you
taken in respect of their taxi or private hire vehicle drivers' licenses?
3) Since 2010 you have been obliged to process applications under Section
166 of the Equality Act for driver medical exemptions from the duty to
transport and not discriminate against wheelchair users. The Guidance
states; "the Act allows LAs to grant exemptions from the duties to
individual drivers. These provisions are contained in section 166, and
were commenced on 1st October 2010." 3a) How many exemptions have you
granted under S166 of the Equality Act 2010? 3b) The guidance states: "We
understand that some licensing authorities have already put in place
procedures for accessing and exempting drivers, and as an absolute
minimum, we think that the evidence provided should be in the form of a
letter or report from a general practitioner." Do you accept or require a
letter or report from a GP to process applications for driver exemption
under S166? 3c) The guidance states: "The Governmentb .s view is that
decisions on exemptions will be fairer and more objective if medical
assessments are undertaken by professionals who have been specifically
trained and who are independent of the applicant. We would recommend that
independent medical assessors are used where a long-term exemption is to
be issued, and that LAs use assessors who hold appropriate professional
qualifications and who are not open to bias because of a personal or
commercial connection to the applicant" Have you appointed independent
medical assessors to determine applications for medical exemption under
S166? 3d) Please provide a copy of your application form for driver
exemption under S166. 3e) The guidance states: "Section 172 of the Act
enables drivers to appeal against the decision of a LA not to issue an
exemption certificate. That appeal should be made to the Magistrateb .s
Court, or a sheriff in Scotland, and must be made within 28 days beginning
with the date of the refusal." How many appeals against refusal to issue
S166 exemptions have been heard? 3f) How many appeals against refusal to
issue S166 exemptions were successful? 4) The guidance states: "We would
therefore recommend that LAs also publish a list of vehicles that are
accessible to passengers in wheelchairs who are able to transfer from
their wheelchair into a seat within the vehicle. It should be made clear
however that this list of vehicles has not been published for the purposes
of section 165 of the Act and drivers of those vehicles are therefore not
subject to the legal duties to provide assistance." Do you currently
publish a list of vehicles that are accessible to passengers in
wheelchairs who are able to transfer from their wheelchairs into a seat
within the vehicle? Yours faithfully, Doug Paulley
------------------------------------------------------------------- Please
use this email address for all replies to this request:
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[St Helens Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council? If so, please contact
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safely disclosing information, read the latest advice from the ICO:
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note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be
delayed. If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

St.Helens Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Paulley

 

Please find the link to this information contained on our website.

https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/media/8086/l...

If you disagree with our decision or are otherwise unhappy with how we
have dealt with your request, in the first instance please write to St
Helens Council, Internal Audit, Town Hall, Victoria Square, St Helens,
Merseyside WA10 1HP.
Should you remain dissatisfied with the outcome, you have the right under
Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act to appeal against the
decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.

"This e-mail and any file transmitted with it are confidential, subject to
copyright and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to
whom they are addressed. It may contain privileged information. Any
unauthorised review, use, disclosure, distribution or publication is
prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please contact the
sender by reply e-mail and destroy and delete the message and all copies
from your computer. "

Dear St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Implementation of S167 lists of taxis - Previously A'.

The list you provided in response to my request, does not provide all the information I requested.

It doesn't provide the following information, as originally requested:

2a) The statutory guidance states "The Government therefore recommends that a vehicle should only be included in the authority’s (S167) list if it would be possible for the user of a “reference wheelchair” to enter, leave and travel in the passenger compartment in safety and reasonable comfort whilst seated in their wheelchair."
Is this the definition you have used for a taxi or PHV to be considered wheelchair accessible for the purposes of the list?

2b) The statutory guidance states: "Before drivers can be subject to the duties under section 165 of the Act, the LA must first publish their list of designated vehicles, and clearly mark it as ‘designated for the purposes of section 165 of the Act’. LAs should ensure that their designated lists are made easily available to passengers, and that vehicle owners and drivers are made aware. Lists should set out the details of the make and model of the vehicle, together with specifying whether the vehicle is a taxi or private hire vehicle, and stating the name of operator."
Have you made owners and drivers of vehicles on the list aware that their vehicle has been listed?

2d) The guidance states: "We encourage LAs to provide drivers of taxis and PHVs who are not exempt from the duties with clear guidance on their duties with respect to the carriage of passengers in wheelchairs, either as part of existing driver-facing guidance, or as supplementary communication."
Have you provided non-exempt taxi/PHV drivers with such guidance?

2e) The guidance states: "We recommend that licensing authority rules for drivers are updated to make clear when a meter can and cannot be left running".
Have you updated such rules to make this clear?

2f) The guidance states: "Section 172 of the Act enables vehicle owners to appeal against the decision of a LA to include their vehicles on the designated list. That appeal should be made to the Magistrate’s Court, or in Scotland the sheriff, and must be made within 28 days of the vehicle in question being included on the LA’s published list."
Please tell me how many such applications have been made to the Magistrates Court, and how many have been successful.

2g) How many drivers has the authority prosecuted for discriminatory behaviour contrary to S165 of the Act? How many such prosecutions were successful? What were the sentences?

2h) How many drivers licensed by yourselves have been prosecuted by other people or bodies for failure to comply with S165 of the Act? How many such prosecutions were successful? What were the sentences?

2i) Where drivers have been prosecuted under S165 of the Act, thus affecting their standing as a "fit and proper person", what resultant disciplinary action have you taken in respect of their taxi or private hire vehicle drivers' licenses?

3) Since 2010 you have been obliged to process applications under Section 166 of the Equality Act for driver medical exemptions from the duty to transport and not discriminate against wheelchair users. The Guidance states; "the Act allows LAs to grant exemptions from the duties to individual drivers. These provisions are contained in section 166, and were commenced on 1st October 2010."

3a) How many exemptions have you granted under S166 of the Equality Act 2010?

3b) The guidance states: "We understand that some licensing authorities have already put in place procedures for accessing and exempting drivers, and as an absolute minimum, we think that the evidence provided should be in the form of a letter or report from a general practitioner."
Do you accept or require a letter or report from a GP to process applications for driver exemption under S166?

3c) The guidance states: "The Government’s view is that decisions on exemptions will be fairer and more objective if medical assessments are undertaken by professionals who have been specifically trained and who are independent of the applicant. We would recommend that independent medical assessors are used where a long-term exemption is to be issued, and that LAs use assessors who hold appropriate professional qualifications and who are not open to bias because of a personal or commercial connection to the applicant"
Have you appointed independent medical assessors to determine applications for medical exemption under S166?

3d) Please provide a copy of your application form for driver exemption under S166.

3e) The guidance states: "Section 172 of the Act enables drivers to appeal against the decision of a LA not to issue an exemption certificate. That appeal should be made to the Magistrate’s Court, or a sheriff in Scotland, and must be made within 28 days beginning with the date of the refusal."
How many appeals against refusal to issue S166 exemptions have been heard?

3f) How many appeals against refusal to issue S166 exemptions were successful?

4) The guidance states: "We would therefore recommend that LAs also publish a list of vehicles that are accessible to passengers in wheelchairs who are able to transfer from their wheelchair into a seat within the vehicle. It should be made clear however that this list of vehicles has not been published for the purposes of section 165 of the Act and drivers of those vehicles are therefore not subject to the legal duties to provide assistance."
Do you currently publish a list of vehicles that are accessible to passengers in wheelchairs who are able to transfer from their wheelchairs into a seat within the vehicle?

Yours faithfully,

Doug Paulley

Contact Centre, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Doug Paulley

Thank you for your recent request for information, which will be treated
as a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental
Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Your enquiry has been given a reference number 20180611-00373-1. Please
quote this reference in any future correspondence with us concerning this
matter.

If the information you are requesting falls under EIR (see [1]here for
more details) then a charge may be applicable in line with [2]guidance
from the Information Commissioner's Office. Once your request has been
reviewed you will be informed of an appropriate charge that may be
applied.

In accordance with the Act, a response will be sent to you within 20
working days from the date following the receipt of the request or receipt
of an applicable payment.

Kind regards,
St. Helens Council
01744 676789

------------------------ Original Email -------------- Received On:
09/06/2018 00:21:53 GDT
Subject:Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Implementation
of S167 lists of taxis - Previously A

Dear St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, Please pass this on to the
person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews. I am writing to
request an internal review of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council's
handling of my FOI request 'Implementation of S167 lists of taxis -
Previously A'. The list you provided in response to my request, does not
provide all the information I requested. It doesn't provide the following
information, as originally requested: 2a) The statutory guidance states
"The Government therefore recommends that a vehicle should only be
included in the authorityb .s (S167) list if it would be possible for the
user of a b .reference wheelchairb . to enter, leave and travel in the
passenger compartment in safety and reasonable comfort whilst seated in
their wheelchair." Is this the definition you have used for a taxi or PHV
to be considered wheelchair accessible for the purposes of the list? 2b)
The statutory guidance states: "Before drivers can be subject to the
duties under section 165 of the Act, the LA must first publish their list
of designated vehicles, and clearly mark it as b .designated for the
purposes of section 165 of the Actb .. LAs should ensure that their
designated lists are made easily available to passengers, and that vehicle
owners and drivers are made aware. Lists should set out the details of the
make and model of the vehicle, together with specifying whether the
vehicle is a taxi or private hire vehicle, and stating the name of
operator." Have you made owners and drivers of vehicles on the list aware
that their vehicle has been listed? 2d) The guidance states: "We encourage
LAs to provide drivers of taxis and PHVs who are not exempt from the
duties with clear guidance on their duties with respect to the carriage of
passengers in wheelchairs, either as part of existing driver-facing
guidance, or as supplementary communication." Have you provided non-exempt
taxi/PHV drivers with such guidance? 2e) The guidance states: "We
recommend that licensing authority rules for drivers are updated to make
clear when a meter can and cannot be left running". Have you updated such
rules to make this clear? 2f) The guidance states: "Section 172 of the Act
enables vehicle owners to appeal against the decision of a LA to include
their vehicles on the designated list. That appeal should be made to the
Magistrateb .s Court, or in Scotland the sheriff, and must be made within
28 days of the vehicle in question being included on the LAb .s published
list." Please tell me how many such applications have been made to the
Magistrates Court, and how many have been successful. 2g) How many drivers
has the authority prosecuted for discriminatory behaviour contrary to S165
of the Act? How many such prosecutions were successful? What were the
sentences? 2h) How many drivers licensed by yourselves have been
prosecuted by other people or bodies for failure to comply with S165 of
the Act? How many such prosecutions were successful? What were the
sentences? 2i) Where drivers have been prosecuted under S165 of the Act,
thus affecting their standing as a "fit and proper person", what resultant
disciplinary action have you taken in respect of their taxi or private
hire vehicle drivers' licenses? 3) Since 2010 you have been obliged to
process applications under Section 166 of the Equality Act for driver
medical exemptions from the duty to transport and not discriminate against
wheelchair users. The Guidance states; "the Act allows LAs to grant
exemptions from the duties to individual drivers. These provisions are
contained in section 166, and were commenced on 1st October 2010." 3a) How
many exemptions have you granted under S166 of the Equality Act 2010? 3b)
The guidance states: "We understand that some licensing authorities have
already put in place procedures for accessing and exempting drivers, and
as an absolute minimum, we think that the evidence provided should be in
the form of a letter or report from a general practitioner." Do you accept
or require a letter or report from a GP to process applications for driver
exemption under S166? 3c) The guidance states: "The Governmentb .s view is
that decisions on exemptions will be fairer and more objective if medical
assessments are undertaken by professionals who have been specifically
trained and who are independent of the applicant. We would recommend that
independent medical assessors are used where a long-term exemption is to
be issued, and that LAs use assessors who hold appropriate professional
qualifications and who are not open to bias because of a personal or
commercial connection to the applicant" Have you appointed independent
medical assessors to determine applications for medical exemption under
S166? 3d) Please provide a copy of your application form for driver
exemption under S166. 3e) The guidance states: "Section 172 of the Act
enables drivers to appeal against the decision of a LA not to issue an
exemption certificate. That appeal should be made to the Magistrateb .s
Court, or a sheriff in Scotland, and must be made within 28 days beginning
with the date of the refusal." How many appeals against refusal to issue
S166 exemptions have been heard? 3f) How many appeals against refusal to
issue S166 exemptions were successful? 4) The guidance states: "We would
therefore recommend that LAs also publish a list of vehicles that are
accessible to passengers in wheelchairs who are able to transfer from
their wheelchair into a seat within the vehicle. It should be made clear
however that this list of vehicles has not been published for the purposes
of section 165 of the Act and drivers of those vehicles are therefore not
subject to the legal duties to provide assistance." Do you currently
publish a list of vehicles that are accessible to passengers in
wheelchairs who are able to transfer from their wheelchairs into a seat
within the vehicle? Yours faithfully, Doug Paulley
------------------------------------------------------------------- Please
use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #482347 email] Disclaimer: This message and
any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and
copyright policies: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi... For more
detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the latest advice
from the ICO:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-... Please
note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be
delayed. If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

St.Helens Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Sir

 

Please find below the answers to your remaining questions on this matter.

 

2a) Yes

2b) Yes

2c) There is no 2c

2d) Yes this is contained within our published Taxi Licensing Policy

2e) Yes this is made clear to drivers within our policies

2f) There have been no appeals in St Helens

2g) 0 - no offences have been found or reported

2h) 0 - that we have been made aware of

2i) not applicable

3a) 6

3b) There is a clear Medical Exemption Procedure which is published on our
website
[1]https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/media/8421/p...

3c) yes published on our website.

3d) [2]https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/business/lic...

3e) 0

3f) not applicable

3g) no

 

we trust this now clarifies the matter for you.

 

If you disagree with our decision or are otherwise unhappy with how we
have dealt with your request, in the first instance please write to St
Helens Council, Internal Audit, Town Hall, Victoria Square, St Helens,
Merseyside WA10 1HP.
Should you remain dissatisfied with the outcome, you have the right under
Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act to appeal against the
decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.

"This e-mail and any file transmitted with it are confidential, subject to
copyright and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to
whom they are addressed. It may contain privileged information. Any
unauthorised review, use, disclosure, distribution or publication is
prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please contact the
sender by reply e-mail and destroy and delete the message and all copies
from your computer. "

References

Visible links
1. https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/media/8421/p...
2. https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/business/lic...