HC Deb 10 February 1970 vol 795 cc1059-60
11. Mr. John Page

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make an appreciation of the accessibility of the public parts of the Palace of Westminster to those using wheel-chairs, make recommendations and issue a simple route plan, to include the siting of suitable sanitary facilities, to assist disabled visitors and those who are guiding them.

Mr. Loughlin

Yes, although I should like to make it clear that the authorities of the House already take special care to ensure that invalids in wheel-chairs visiting the Palace of Westminster are afforded all possible assistance, including the use of the lifts to reach all the main public parts on the Principal floor. The suggestion of a route plan is for the authorities of the House to consider, and I will invite their attention to it.

Mr. Page

While I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's reply of "Yes", it does not take us very far. Is he aware that disabled people in wheel chairs want to live as normal a life as possible? Will he take further steps with a view to making access to parts of the House more easily available to them?

Mr. Loughlin

I think that the hon. Gentleman has forgotten his Question, which asks whether I will make an appreciation of the accessibility to the public parts of the Palace of Westminster. I said "Yes, Sir"; in other words, I undertake to make an appreciation with a view to assisting, as far as possible, people who are unfortunate enough to be invalids to get into this House.

Mr. Maclennan

While I recognise the special needs of the disabled in this respect, will my hon. Friend acknowledge that there are many hon. Members who are not disabled, yet who find the House inaccessible to them, are forced to have their rooms at considerable distances from the House, and cast particularly interested glances at the facilities at the other end of the building?

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is wide of the original Question.

Mr. Loughlin

In a matter of this kind, I think that we should concentrate our attention on trying to assist those people who experience difficulty in getting into this House.