Local Transport Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 37: 37: Clause 19, page 18, line 18, after ““newspaper”” insert ““and one talking newspaper where available”” The noble Earl said: In moving this amendment, I shall speak also to Amendment No. 55. The Committee will be relieved to hear that my amendment addresses a rather simpler matter. The issue of accessibility of consultation documents is important if the consultation process is to be effective. We have already raised concerns regarding the requirement to consult certain people and organisations. I note that there will be a new requirement to publish a consultation before introducing a new quality contracts scheme and that new guidance will be produced regarding that. It is essential for the guidance to highlight two things. First, there is the need to make the consultation document available in accessible formats and, secondly, there is the need to publish its availability in those accessible formats. The comments on consultation should also apply to other consultation requirements in the Bill. Clause 19(2) would require a notice to go into at least one newspaper circulated in the area. Most notices in local papers are in the smallest possible print, which is unreadable for anyone with a sight problem. It is essential that legislation encourages the use of talking newspapers, where they are available, to publish the consultations. The Minister’s right honourable friend Rosie Winterton has said that she believes that it is the representative bodies rather than individuals that need to be consulted, and of course she is right in many cases. However, in many areas there will be a local society representing blind and partially sighted people, which would need to be consulted. The person responding on behalf of the local society or another organisation may well be visually impaired, so it is essential that notices are not just confined to the print media. In addition, where there is no local society, individual visually impaired people will need to be consulted if an authority is to discharge its duties to carry out an effective disability equality impact assessment. The noble Lord, Lord Low, has drafted an amendment designed to achieve the same effect. Unfortunately, I do not think that he will be able to speak to it today. No doubt the noble Lord will pursue it at a later stage, if necessary. I beg to move.