§ Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent action the Government have taken to tackle discrimination against disabled people. [37155]
§ Mr. BurtThe Disability Discrimination Act 1995 makes discrimination against disabled people unlawful in employment, access to goods, facilities, services and premises. These areas of the Act come into force on 2 December this year.
I have today laid the Disability Discrimination (Services and Premises) Regulations before the House under part III of the DDA. These regulations relate to: insurance, where the way in which the Act operates needs to be qualified so that objective underwriting decisions are not restricted; guarantees and refundable deposits; education-related services; and people who have a power of attorney and act on behalf of a disabled person.
I have placed in the Library copies of the analysis of responses to our recent consultation on these regulations. I have also placed in the Library copies of the National Disability Council's analysis of responses to its recent consultation exercise on proposals for a code of practice on the first of the rights of access to goods, facilities, services and premises under the DDA.
The council is to be commended for all its efforts in producing a code of practice to such a high standard so quickly after its creation.