A consultation on obliging public transport to carry disabled passengers will be held by the end of the summer.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker was asked by Chris Thomas to outline when the obligation will be inserted into Section 37 of the Road Transport Act.

Mr Thomas (Douglas Central) also asked whether this will require secondary legislation and if so when it will be made?

The Minister said that there ’will likely be a requirement to bring forward secondary legislation by way of regulations’.

Mr Baker added: ’It is envisaged that these will be made by the department and once drafted it is intended that they will be the subject of consultation. I would hope that these regulations will be published for consultation at the end of the summer.

’I would like to reassure the honourable member that this is a matter which the department takes very seriously and is committed to ensuring that transport is accessible, safe and reliable for all.’

Earlier this year, former DoI minister Ray Harmer was forced to defend a decision to ban mobility scooters from the island’s bus fleet in Tynwald. He said it was not possible to safely secure a mobility scooter on any of the buses in the current fleet.