§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to ensure that all new designs for buildings to which the public will be admitted include in the means of access both to and within the building or premises and in the parking facilities and sanitary conveniences, adequate provision for the needs of disabled people.
§ Mr. Concannon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 514–15], gave the following information:
Arrangements are in force under which a number of Government Departments in Northern Ireland issue guidance on the needs of the disabled in this respect, in order to ensure that suitable provision is made as far as it is practicable and reasonable to do so.
The Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services has issued design of buildings in the health and social guidance to staff concerned with the services fields; similarly, guidance has been issued by the Northern Ireland Department of Finance on the design of new Government buildings; and the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment has asked district councils to take into account the needs of the disabled when designing their own buildings to draw the matter to the attention of private developers when approval is being sought under building regulations.
In Great Britain, power has been taken in the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974 which would allow standards covering matters such as access for the disabled to public buildings to be prescribed and enforced under building regulations. Similar powers are included in legislation which has been prepared to amend the existing Northern Ireland Building Regulations Order.