HC Deb 08 February 1965 vol 706 cc22-4
14. Mr. Allason

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to provide ramps to permit handicapped people using wheelchairs to enter public buildings.

42. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue a circular to local authorities stressing the importance of constructing ramps at the entrances to public buildings when new development is planned in order to facilitate the mobility of disabled persons using lightweight wheelchairs.

Mr. K. Robinson

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works and I intend in the near future to circulate to Government Departments and to hospital authorities respectively, short notes on design features in future public buildings, including ramps for wheelchairs, which will help handicapped people. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I propose at the same time to write to local authorities inviting them to incorporate these features in new local authority buildings and to encourage their incorporation in other buildings to which handicapped people need to have access.

Mr. Allason

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this is a very urgent problem? Will he consider not only future building but also the conversion of existing buildings, because it is extraordinarily frustrating for these people not to be able to get into public buildings, in particular public conveniences? Will he consider this matter in relation to conversion as well as in relation to future building?

Mr. Robinson

These design notes, which incidentally I will put in the Library when they are issued, can be used for adapting existing buildings. But we shall have to consider the extent to which the disabled will need to use buildings which are to be adapted. I should tell the hon. Member that we do not look for very rapid progress in respect of adaptation.

Mr. Bossom

Will the right hon. Gentleman also include places of worship and places of entertainment, of which he made no mention in his Answer? His Department has issued over 22,000 new invalid chairs, and 4,000 of these are for war disability pensioners. There are a considerable number of people, therefore, who need this help.

Mr. Robinson

In fact, 70,000 have wheelchairs issued from my Department. The other matters which the hon. Member mentioned are matters for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, and I will discuss them with him.

Dame Joan Vickers

Is the Minister in touch with the National Assistance Board? In their new buildings—and I have already been in touch with various Departments concerned—they are not considering making these facilities for disabled people, which I regard as essential if they are to have confidential discussions.

Mr. Robinson

I did not mention specific Government Departments. The National Assistance Board will undoubtedly have these design notes as soon as they are issued.

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