§ Mr. Rhodes Jamesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with arrangements for disabled people in the city of Cambridge, with particular reference to places of public entertainment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisWhile all over Britain there are still too many places which are not as freely accessible to the disabled as they are to other people, I am pleased to say that the work of the silver jubilee committee on improving access for disabled people, has met with an encouraging response from proprietors of places of public entertainment as from others. In particular, I should like to commend the Arts Theatre in Cambridge. Following my recent approach to it, it very willingly agreed to improve its arrangements for admitting disabled people. I am advised that these arrangements are now excellent.
389WThe limited space available and the constraints imposed by its old building make it necessary for it to request disabled people to book in advance. Nevertheless, the theatre is anxious to ensure that people in wheelchairs can take full advantage of concessions made to patrons generally. Therefore, it will in future sell in advance to wheelchair-bound students—and their able-bodied companions—tickets which would otherwise be available only on a standby basis to students.
This is the kind of positive approach to improving access for disabled people which I and the silver jubilee committee have been seeking to encourage. I find the initiative of the Arts Theatre, Cambridge, most heartening and warmly congratulate it on combining improved access with an attitude that ensures that disabled people are not discriminated against in any way because of their disabilities.