§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will comment on current action to make public buildings increasingly accessible to the physically handicapped.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAs I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 25 January, I recently received the report of the Silver Jubilee committee on improving access for disabled people. The committee has greatly stimulated awareness of, and a more positive and sympathetic attitude towards, access problems among the public generally and owners and managers of public and social buildings in particular. I have warmly congratulated the committee on its work.
Copies of its report have been sent to local authorities and voluntary agencies. I am glad to say that, in consequence, the city of Manchester has already informed me that it is giving immediate effect to the Silver Jubilee committee's recommendation that an officer of each local authority should be designated as an access officer to liaise and co-ordinate on all questions involving access for disabled people.
I am now arranging also to send the Silver Jubilee committee's report to other bodies which are in a position to help disabled people to live more full and fulfilling lives. They include major theatres and cinema chains, entertainment organisations, repertory associations and the churches. I am sure that this will result in other significant local improvements in access.
My ministerial colleagues and I are considering the Silver Jubilee committee's recommendations urgently and sympathetically. Meanwhile I have already taken action on its recommendation concerning a successor body. I have established a committee on restrictions against disabled people—CORAD. As well as looking into questions of discrimination against disabled people, CORAD will continue the access work undertaken by 688W the Silver Jubilee committee. I am confident that the new committee will sustain the impetus created by its predecessor in the access field as well as promoting further improvements in the well-being and status of disabled people.
In parallel with the work of the Silver jubilee committee, the Government have been taking specific action to make more Government buildings accessible to disabled people. As I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 3 August last, the Property Services Agency has set aside £500,000 in 1979–80 to make at least one Government building in 56 towns fully accessible to disabled people.