§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the accessibility of Benefits Agency offices to disabled people; what percentage remain inaccessible to disabled people in terms of(a) physical and (b) sensory disability; and if he will make a statement; [9284]
(2) how he assesses the accessibility of offices other than those of the Benefits Agency for which he is responsible to disabled people; what percentage remains inaccessible to disabled people in terms of (a) physical and (b) sensory disability; and if he will make a statement. [9251]
§ Mr. BurtThis is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Gordon McMaster, dated 26 January 1996
593WThe Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking what assessment he has made of the accessibility of Benefits Agency offices to disabled people; and how he assesses the accessibility of offices other than those of the Benefits Agency (BA) for which he is responsible to disabled people; what percentage remain inaccessible to disabled people in terms of (a) physical and (b) sensory disability; and if he will make a statement.The BA shares its public outlets with the Child Support Agency and War Pensions Agency. The Contributions Agency has public access at only 4 of its independent sites and the Independent Tribunal Service has 44 sites with public access. Caller enquiries relating to the BA, Contributions Agency, Child Support Agency and War Pensions Agency are generally all handled at offices operated by the BA.Annexe A shows the percentage of offices that we consider are accessible to physically disabled persons.The accessibility of buildings is assessed on a quarterly basis. The data collated includes details on whether the building is provided with level access, a ramp or lift to avoid steps or stairways. if it has a loop-aid or minicom system to assist those with hearing difficulties and if it has any special features to assist blind or partially sighted visitors. Disabled access is automatically considered for all new buildings and major refurbishments on existing buildings.The provision of Loop Systems to aid the hard of hearing and special signs for the blind and partially sighted are a standard design consideration in major refurbishment or new buildings. Sixty seven percent of existing buildings have had loop-aid systems installed.Offices which remain inaccessible are treated as a priority for capital funding, providing modification of the building is technically possible.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Annexe A Agency Number with flat/ramped access Number without flat/ramped access Benefits agency 614 (84 per cent.) 117 (16 per cent.) (including Child Support Contributions and War Pensions Agency) Contributions agency 4 (100 per cent.) 0 Independent tribunal service 38 (86 per cent.) 6 (14 per cent.) Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.