§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what improvements in access to polling stations will have been carried out in Newbury by 6 May.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe acting returning officer has informed me that, since the general election, the location of seven polling stations within the Newbury constituency has been changed as buildings with better access arrangements have been found in the area.
I have asked him to write to the hon. Member with details of these and other steps he has taken.
Mr. ShermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken to improve access to polling stations since the general election;
(2) if he will make it his policy to launch a programme of easier access for disabled people to polling stations.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is our long-term aim that all polling stations should be accessible to disabled electors. Councils have a statutory obligation to designate as polling places, wherever possible, only places which are accessible to disabled people. We have recently written to returning officers to remind them of their obligations and to circulate guidance produced by the Spastics Society on improving the accessibility of polling stations. One of the working356W groups set up as part of our post-election review is also looking at matters relating to access to polling stations. Where it is not possible to use a building affording easy access, we make grants available towards the cost of providing temporary ramps.