§ 4. Mr. Bill Rammell (Harlow)What progress has been made with the implementation of the football task force report "Improving Facilities for Disabled Supporters". [77371]
§ The Minister for Sport (Mr. Tony Banks)On 25 November, I wrote to all the organisations identified in the report as having a role to play in implementing the task force's recommendations. The responses that I have received have been positive, indicating that the task force's proposals either have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. On 17 March, I wrote to those organisations that have yet to reply, asking them for an indication of the progress that they are making.
In addition, I have taken steps to implement the practical recommendations made in the report that fall to the Government through the Building Regulations. Those relate to amending the approved document for part M of the Building Regulations to require all new stadiums, new stands and extensions to existing facilities to provide 715 wheelchair spaces in accordance with the "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds"; to drawing up a sliding scale for the numbers of designated seats in new stands and stadiums for people who are ambulant disabled or visually or hearing impaired, and to amending part M accordingly; and to extending the future role of the Football Trust to improve disabled facilities at grounds.
§ Mr. RammellI thank my hon. Friend for that response. Does he agree with me that facilities for disabled people at most English grounds still leave a great deal to be desired? Will he ensure that the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 are fully implemented by all those clubs? Does he also agree that, to succeed with the world cup 2006 bid—which is a key priority for the Government and for most hon. Members—the new national stadium and access to it for the disabled must be world class?
§ Mr. BanksI agree with my hon. Friend. Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will undoubtedly improve access at sports venues for people with disabilities. My hon. Friend is right to point out that we now have a real opportunity in the construction of the new Wembley to ensure that it is a state-of-the-art stadium for not only able-bodied but disabled supporters, whatever their disability. The building of the new Wembley stadium is crucial to our 2006 bid, and I am delighted that we have cleared the hurdle of the approval of Wembley plc, and we can now proceed to the design stage.
§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath)Does the Minister agree that we should try to improve facilities for disabled supporters not only of football, but of other sports? Will he bear in mind the needs not only of disabled spectators, but of paralympic athletes? I have discussed this matter with the Minister, and I know that he is aware of the concerns of many paralympians about the lack of proper facilities for disabled competitors at Crystal Palace. I hope that he can tell us that that matter is being addressed.
Will the Minister join me in welcoming the very good new facilities, including facilities for the disabled, opened yesterday by Trevor Brooking, the acting chairman of Sport England, at the Lightwater leisure centre in my constituency?
§ Mr. BanksI most certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman, and I acknowledge the part that he plays in the promotion of disability sport in this country. He is right to point out that our paralympians are among the finest in the world. We should see them in terms not of their disability, but of their sporting achievements and prowess, about which we have much to feel proud. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will apply to all sporting venues, not just football stadiums. There is much that we can do to improve our grounds, whether for athletics or for football, to ensure that we provide the best possible facilities for disabled spectators and our disabled sportsmen and sportswomen.
§ Ms Claire Ward (Watford)Does my hon. Friend agree that some clubs have made considerable progress in opening up their grounds and making football accessible particularly to the disabled, but also to families and children? Does he also agree that the decision by Chelsea football club to keep open the job for Graham Rix after 716 his conviction shows cynical disregard for the views of the family of the victim, and is a step back in making football accessible to all?
§ Mr. BanksFootball clubs such as Blackburn and Northampton have provided facilities for disabled supporters. That is admirable and should be replicated around the country.
On the matter of Graham Rix, it is for the club to decide. Mr. Rix is rightly paying the price for his criminal act. Whether the club should have made such an announcement so soon after the sentence had been passed is a matter of judgment, and some people may feel that it has erred in its judgment. However, it is a matter for the club, and Mr. Rix will suffer his due penalty, as he should.