HC Deb 12 December 1995 vol 268 c583W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what measures he proposes to ensure that private sector building companies provide housing that meets the specific needs of people(a) over the age of 65 years and (b) the disabled.[4552]

Mr. Clappison

The Government consulted earlier this year on proposals to extend the requirements of the building regulations to help disabled people in new dwellings in England and Wales. The proposals are intended to identify a range of reasonable provisions which could be incorporated into new dwellings in order to allow future occupiers:

  1. (a) to be able to invite disabled people to visit them in their own homes; and
  2. (b) to be able to cope better with reducing mobility as people grow older and hence to be able to "stay put" longer in their own homes.

Over 1,000 responses have been received to that consultation, and these are at present being analysed.