§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects the Disability Rights Commission to be fully operational. [89711]
§ Ms HodgeSubject to Parliament enacting the Disability Rights Commission Bill, which had its Report and Third Reading in this House on 30 June 1999,Official Report, columns 365–400, we expect the Commission to begin operations in April 2000. Initial planning for the establishment of the Commission has begun. However, much of the work cannot commence until after Royal Assent of the Bill and when the Chairman, Chief Executive and Commissioners have been appointed. It will be for them to decide the range of services available from its operational date.