Today we launched ncat's Accessible Transport Policy Commission. The Commission is a cross-party Parliamentary forum of MPs and Peers who are committed to eliminating barriers to transport. Chaired by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, the Commission will convene disabled people and transport professionals with policymakers to forge a new and more inclusive consensus about the future of the transport system. 

The Accessible Transport Policy Commission is part of the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) and works to remove barriers to transport for disabled people across the UK. 

The Commission will hold meetings in Parliament to bring together parliamentarians, disabled people, transport professionals, and policymakers from the national, regional, local and devolved levels of government to improve public policies and everyday practices. It does this by applying evidence and insights from ncat and a wide range of other experts through roundtable discussions, research symposiums and cross-sector meetings.  

At the launch, we heard a keynote speech from Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Minister for Department for Transport and we were joined by the ncat consortium partners, alongside an expert panel including Clive Gilbert (Head of Accessible Transport at Policy Connect), Paul Herriotts (Coventry University), Kamran Mallick (Disability Rights UK), Claire Walters (Bus Users UK), and Dr Nik Johnson (Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough). 

Baroness Grey-Thomson says:

"I'm delighted to be the chair of the new cross-party Accessible Transport Policy Commission. Whether it's to get to school, commute to work or visit friends, transport is a vital part of everyday life. However, too many disabled people face extra obstacles because of poor accessibility. We don't want special treatment - only the same experience as everyone else. With the support of the National Centre for Accessible Transport, I'm looking forward working with my fellow Commissioners to bring disabled people and transport professionals together with policymakers from across the UK to break down barriers so in future no one is left behind."

Clive Gilbert says: 

"We are delighted to have launched the Accessible Transport Policy Commission.  The last few decades have witnessed significant victories in the fight for disabled people to be able to travel when and wherever they wish. But research by the Motability Foundation shows that progress has stalled. Over the next seven years, the Commission will be a key part of the National Centre for Accessible Transport's toolkit as it works to make transport accessible for disabled people across the UK."

The Commission consists of:

• Baroness Grey-Thompson (Crossbench)
• Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield (Labour and Co-operative Party) 
• Lord Shinkwin (Conservative Party) 
• Marion Fellows, MP for Motherwell and Wishaw (Scottish National Party) 
• Paul Maynard, MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Conservative Party) 
• Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford and Isleworth (Labour Party) 
• Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South (Labour Party) 

Its secretariat is provided by the cross-party think tank Policy Connect. 

To find out more about the event or The Commission, please contact clive.gilbert [at] policyconnect.org.uk (clive[dot]gilbert[at]policyconnect[dot]org[dot]uk)

Notes to editors

About the National Centre for Accessible Transport  

The National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) works to ensure that no disabled person faces challenges arising from poor access to transport. ncat aims to deliver on this mission by: 

• Engaging with disabled people to better understand their experiences and co-design solutions 
• Amplifying the voices of disabled people in all decision making 
• Collaborating widely with all transport stakeholders 
• Demonstrating good practice and impact to influence policy 

ncat is delivered by a consortium of organisations that includes Coventry University, Policy Connect, The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC), Designability, Connected Places Catapult, and WSP. It is funded for the period 2023-2030 by the Motability Foundation. 

Find out more about ncat at www.ncat.uk

About Policy Connect 

Policy Connect is a cross-party think tank with five main policy pillars: Education and Skills; Industry, Technology & Innovation; Sustainability, Health; and Accessibility.  

We support parliamentary groups, forums and commissions for which Policy Connect provides the secretariat and delivers impactful policy research and event programmes.  Our collaboration with parliamentarians through these groups allows us to inform public policy in Westminster and Whitehall.  We are a social enterprise and are funded by a combination of regular annual membership subscriptions and time-limited sponsorships. 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident and London Living Wage employer, and a member of Social Enterprise UK.