Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about support for the visually impaired in Scotland.
I wholeheartedly agree that the UK’s transition out of lockdown needs to be as inclusive as possible, especially for those people who will find it harder to navigate under social distancing restrictions. I read the guidance produced by Guide Dogs with great interest and I would be happy to share the document with transport providers in my constituency.
I believe that as we transition out of lockdown, it is crucial that no one is left behind under social distancing restrictions. My colleagues in Holyrood and I are therefore committed to ensuring visually impaired individuals have the necessary support in place as we all navigate this new normal. It is important that information should be provided for disabled passengers on how they can continue to access transport in a safe way and I will encourage Conservative MSPs to push the Scottish Government to ensure this is available.
I also believe that operators should publish details about provision for disabled passengers, and they should note any changes to assistance services. I would also expect passengers using public transport to be considerate towards those with disabilities who may require a seat or more space around them.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards, Alister