Palace of Westminster: Disability Legislation (Hansard, 6 May 2004)

§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
My Lords, the House of Lords is committed to meeting all its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as amended by the Disability Discrimination (Providers of Services) (Adjustment of Premises) Regulations 2001 which come into force on 1 October. The House will also take all reasonable steps to implement in practice provisions in legislation which do not automatically apply to the Palace to facilitate access for disabled Members, staff and members of the public.

§ Lord Addington
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Will he give me a further assurance that the House will ensure that—without being asked, taking a proactive stance—it has plans in place for future implementation? Will he also assure us that staff are properly covered in this respect as they are probably more important than Members to the efficient running of the place?

§ The Chairman of Committees
My Lords, as the noble Lord says, the obligation to staff is most important. In fact, the obligation on us regarding staff is different from that applying to Members, and the staff are actually better off than we are in this regard.
As for future action that we might take, noble Lords will be, I hope, interested to know that the whole Palace was surveyed by specialists during 2003 and their report has recently been received. Planning is beginning to implement recommended improvements for access and use of the premises by people with disabilities. This will cover areas to which the public are admitted and areas used by Members and staff of the two Houses subject to the tests of reasonableness. These matters will initially be 1217 considered by the domestic committees of the House, and English Heritage and Westminster City Council will be consulted as appropriate on listed building and planning issues. Provision for these works is included in the estate's rolling programme.

§ Baroness Masham of Ilton
My Lords, is the Chairman of Committees aware that, last Tuesday, Anne Begg, the Member for Aberdeen South, who uses a wheelchair, was on her way to a reception at the Cholmondeley Room when it was pouring with rain outside and she got stuck in one of the lifts? Is he aware that the other place now has better facilities, with new lifts, than our House?

§ The Chairman of Committees
My Lords, I was not aware of the specific incident to which the noble Baroness referred. We are obviously much constrained by the size of lift shafts and so on, the fact that this is a listed building and that it is sometimes difficult to make changes which would otherwise be desirable. However, I can certainly look into the question of access to the Cholmondeley Room. While there is wheelchair access available, it may sometimes be necessary to go rather a long way around, I am afraid. In view of the question on St Mary Undercroft that the noble Baroness asked last time this subject was raised, she may be pleased to know that the lift to St Mary Undercroft is now up and running.

§ Lord Cope of Berkeley
My Lords, we are keen to support the endeavours of the various domestic committees to ensure that the Palace complies with legislation, even if it is not obliged to. Clearly, that is right. The noble Lord, Lord Addington, referred to staff in addition to Members; but is it not the public areas which pose some of the most difficult problems, particularly giving the public access to the galleries, given the nature of this listed building that we occupy? I am sure that the Chairman of Committees will appreciate that.

§ The Chairman of Committees
My Lords, indeed, I do. Unfortunately, it is not possible to arrange wheelchair access to our gallery here, because of the constraints of building and planning controls, but I remind your Lordships that there are four places available for wheelchairs below the Bar which are used quite regularly.