HL Deb 27 July 1981 vol 423 cc545-6

2.39 p.m.

Baroness Vickers

My 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 how many post offices there are in England and Wales; how many are accessible to the disabled; and how many have been made accessible since 1970.

The Minister of State, Department of Employment (The Earl of Gowrie)

My Lords, in England and Wales there are 1,354 Crown Post Offices and 18,076 sub-post offices. I am informed by the Post Office, which has responsibility for such matters, that data on accessibility for the disabled to Crown Offices is not available centrally and the information could not be obtained except at disproportionate expense. I understand, however, that the Post Office has pursued a policy of incorporating access for the disabled into all new Crown Offices built since 1970 and of adapting existing buildings, where practicable and reasonable, to improve access for the disabled.

Baroness Vickers

My Lords, while I thank the noble Earl for that very adequate reply, may I ask whether he is aware that the people wishing to draw their mobility allowances have to go to the post office for it, and it is difficult for them if they cannot get access? Also, we want to have another type of access for those who are not in wheelchairs but who need handrails to enable them to get up numerous steps, in many cases.

The Earl of Gowrie

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for reminding us of some of the difficulties that can fall on the disabled in respect of post offices, and I shall draw her point to the attention of the Post Office.

Viscount Ingleby

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that the problem has been solved at Dartmouth in Devon? This has been done by constructing a ramp parallel to the front of the post office, curving into the entrance and closed in so that it is protected from the weather and does not become slippery, and it is provided with handrails so that it is suitable for the ambulant disabled as well as for the wheelchair disabled.

The Earl of Gowrie

My Lords, I am most grateful for that information. I am glad that Dartmouth is so enlightened and I hope that others will follow.