(1)The Secretary of State may by order (an “exemption order”)—
(a)authorise the use for carriage of a regulated rail vehicle even though the vehicle does not conform with the provisions of rail vehicle accessibility regulations with which it is required to conform;
(b)authorise a regulated rail vehicle to be used for carriage otherwise than in conformity with the provisions of rail vehicle accessibility regulations with which use of the vehicle is required to conform.
(2)Authority under subsection (1)(a) or (b) may be for—
(a)a regulated rail vehicle that is specified or of a specified description,
(b)use in specified circumstances of a regulated rail vehicle, or
(c)use in specified circumstances of a regulated rail vehicle that is specified or of a specified description.
(3)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to exemption orders including, in particular, provision as to—
(a)the persons by whom applications for exemption orders may be made;
(b)the form in which applications are to be made;
(c)information to be supplied in connection with applications;
(d)the period for which exemption orders are to continue in force;
(e)the revocation of exemption orders.
(4)After consulting the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and such other persons as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate, the Secretary of State may—
(a)make an exemption order in the terms of the application for the order;
(b)make an exemption order in such other terms as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate;
(c)refuse to make an exemption order.
(5)The Secretary of State may make an exemption order subject to such conditions and restrictions as are specified.
(6)“Specified” means specified in an exemption order.