Business Plan 2004-05

Executive summary

This report describes the role of the Department for Transport's Mobility & Inclusion Unit. It sets out the social and demographic trends, which drive the Unit's agenda, summarises the work of the Unit over the past year and outlines the priorities for the coming year.

The Unit is responsible for the delivery of the Department's objective to "promote mobility and reduce social exclusion by improving accessibility and personal mobility options" . The Unit's remit extends to all forms of public transport as well as the pedestrian environment and driving.

One of the key social factors driving the Unit's agenda is the changing demographics which will result in a significant increase in the numbers of older people, many of them with mobility problems, in the population over the coming years. The growing imbalance between working age and older populations make this both an economic and a social imperative for Government. Issues of social exclusion, crime and personal security and the specific transport needs and concerns of disabled people, women, young people and minority ethnic and faith communities are also on the Unit's agenda.

Highlights of the Unit's work in 2003 included:

• Publication of a UK Air Access Code setting standards for the aviation industry to meet the needs of disabled passengers;
• Continued roll out of accessible buses and trains under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act;
• Financial support for mobility centres providing advice and assessment for disabled and older drivers;
• Continued implementation of the recommendations of the Social Exclusion Unit's report on transport and social exclusion;
• Publication of a draft strategy on improving links between Government and the voluntary sector;
• Publication of Good Practice Guidance on understanding the travel needs of ethnic and faith communities.

Priorities for the coming year will focus on six key areas:

• Enabling disabled and older people to use the pedestrian environment and transport services;
• Enabling disabled and older people to travel safely using cars and other means of private transport;
• Enabling people to travel by reducing crime and fear of crime;
• Enabling socially excluded people to reach jobs and services;
• Supporting the voluntary sector connecting people and places
• Promoting diversity in transport planning and provision.

The report gives details of specific initiatives under each of these headings and the research, which will underpin them.