Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Hansard, 27 April 1999)

§ Ms Hodge

The next stage of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will come into force on 1 October. Service providers will then have to take reasonable steps to change practices, policies or procedures which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service; provide auxiliary aids or services which would make it easier for, or enable, disabled people to use a service; and overcome physical features which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service, by providing the service by a reasonable alternative means.

I have placed in the Library copies of the report on the public consultation exercise that the Government held jointly with the National Disability Council from 30 July 1998 to 13 November 1998, as well as copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment. I have also laid supporting regulations and a revised Code of Practice, which describes the current and new duties and gives examples of good practice. It also helps service providers and disabled people to understand the law. Subject to the completion of the relevant Parliamentary procedures, we aim to publish the Code, and other information about the Act, at the end of June. This represents significant progress in our programme to tackle discrimination against disabled people.

The final phase of the later rights in Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act is scheduled to come into force in 2004. As a matter of good practice, service providers should be considering now what steps to take in respect of removing or altering or providing a means of avoiding physical obstacles which prevent access to their services.

The duty of reasonable adjustment on trade organisations will also come into force on 1 October. They will then have to take reasonable steps to prevent any arrangements they make placing a disabled member or applicant at a substantial disadvantage compared with people who are not disabled. I have laid a separate Code of Practice for trade organisations, which takes into account the brief guidance on trade organisations currently in the Employment Code of Practice. I have also placed in the Library copies of the associated Regulatory Impact Assessment and Consultation Report. Supporting regulations are not necessary.