§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what external legal advice he has taken on the classification of films shown at a cinema as(a) goods and (b) services for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [123871]
§ Janet AndersonMy Department has not sought external legal advice on this issue. The view of the Government's legal advisers is that the films shown in cinemas are not covered by Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) (the provisions relating to goods, facilities and services). However, cinema proprietors have the same responsibilities under Part III of the Act as other providers of services to the public. These provisions make it unlawful for service providers to discriminate against disabled people by: refusing them service; providing them service on worse terms; or providing a lower standard of service. In addition they must make reasonable adjustments when their services are impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use.