Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have yet designated bodies to take decisions on access facilities for disabled people in new public buildings, in accordance with the legislation passed in the last Session.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, not yet. During the debates on the Disabled Persons Bill, the Government agreed to undertake widespread consultation on this matter. Noble Lords placed particular emphasis on the importance of this consultation and we are considering now how best to reach the widest possible range of interested parties.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, while agreeing with the consultation and thanking my noble friend for his reply, I hope that these designations can be made before too long. In the meantime, will the Government ensure that no proposed new building such as a shop or a pub can evade the tests now required? Is he aware that this legislation is the result of recommendations made by the bodies which have been considering the problems of access for disabled people and that it will remain a very tangible legacy of the International Year?
§ The Earl of AvonOf course, my Lords, I totally agree with my noble friend and indeed would like to endorse those sentiments. As he knows, this is a difficult subject as regards the number of bodies that have been consulted, and I am sure that his Question will have stressed the urgency of the matter and served as a stimulus.
§ Baroness Masham of IltonMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that in the last few weeks I have spoken to many bodies who do not know about this legislation? With the change of Members of Parliament and councillors, does he not think it is very necessary that there should be experts to advise—because otherwise money is wasted in doing the wrong things?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I am very grateful for the noble Baroness's question and of course I will make sure that her remarks are brought to the right authority. I think the difficulty is that the Disabled Persons Act contains provisions on many different aspects of access and Section 6 requires implementation by statutory instrument, but that other sections have 1198 immediate effect and therefore have greater priority. The Secretary of State for Social Services has agreed to co-ordinate a circle of advice from several departments concerned, and this will be ready soon.
§ Lord SegalMy Lords, in view of the fact that everyone, as he grows older, is potentially a disabled person, would not the Government be content to accept the opinion of this House on the matter?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his suggestion and will think about it myself.
Viscount St. DavidsMy Lords, will the noble Earl not agree that, obviously necessary as this legislation is, the inevitable result will be a Quango?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, at the moment of course the noble Viscount is a bit ahead of the gun and I do not think that if a Quango were thought to be necessary the Government would necessarily reject it.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, is it not a fact that the original clause which was accepted by the Government, having been moved by me this summer, asks the Government to designate a body? Therefore it is expected that these will be existing bodies and so it will not be necessary for a new body such as a Quango to be instituted.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I am very grateful to my noble friend for that clarification.