HC Deb 14 June 1994 vol 244 cc365-6W
Mr. Alan Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which amendments to the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill made in Standing Committee were taken into account in the compliance cost assessment; which amendments were not taken into account; and what were the reasons for the Government's approach in this regard.

Mr. Scott

Amendments which could be readily quantified were taken into account in preparing the compliance cost assessment. Others, for example on phase-in times, which were not specific enough to give a clear indication of timing or impact, made it impossible to identify costs over an unspecified period and therefore could not be taken into account.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received in support of his Department's handling of the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

We have received a wide range of representations about the handling and implications of the Civil Right's (Disabled Persons) Bill.

Mr. Alan Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what effects there are on his assessment of the costs of compliance with the requirements of the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill if he takes into account clause 10 as amended in Committee and assumes compliance over a period of(a) 10, (b) 15, (c) 20 and (d) 25 years;

(2) what estimate he makes of the additional costs of adaptation and/or replacement of (i) aircraft, (ii) trains, (iii) buses, (iv) coaches and (v) other means of carriage used in providing transport services to the public, if compliance with the requirements of the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill is deferred for (a) 10, (b) 15, (c) 20 and (d) 25 years.

Mr. Scott

The costs would depend not only on assumptions made about the rate at which compliance was achieved over the phasing period but also on the particular persons or bodies exempted from immediate compliance. Where it was possible to do so, the compliance cost assessment published on 5 May gave indications of the impact of longer phase-in periods. Further information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.