§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) what plans he has to provide facilities that will allow access to wheelchair-bound hon. Members to all relevant areas of the Palace of Westminster with specific reference to the Chamber of the Commons; [2943]
(2) what plans he has to improve facilities to allow access to wheelchair-bound visitors to the Line of Route, Terrace, dining and Committee rooms; [2944]
(3) what plans he has to provide facilities that will allow access to wheelchair-bound civil servants to all relevant areas of the Commons with specific reference to the Officials' Box in the Chamber. [2946]
§ Sir Raymond PowellI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 8 February 1995,Official Report, columns 243–45, which describes in detail the conclusions of the review by the Accommodation and Works Committee of access to the House for disabled people. Since then, the Parliamentary Works Directorate has implemented the approved improvements. These improvements enable hon. Members and civil servants who are wheelchair users to access relevant areas of the Palace of Westminster, including the Chamber of the Commons and visitors who are wheelchair users to access the Line of Route, the Terrace, and the dining and Committee rooms. There are no plans currently to make the Officials' Box in the Chamber accessible to wheelchair users. In the event that a wheelchair-using civil servant was required to support a Minister, it is envisaged that he or she would be able to do so from the area adjacent to the Officials' Box. However, a handrail has been fixed in the Officials' Box to assist persons with disabilities.