§ Mr. Dan Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in order to identify and publicise the access problems of disabled people, he will arrange for Ministers and senior officials of his Department to spend a period of time in a wheelchair during Access Week which begins on 29 June.
§ Mr. RossiI refer the hon. Member to what was said on behalf of the Government by my noble friend Lord Skelmersdale on 14 April in another place—[Vol. 419, c.246W 863]. We have given our full support to the work of the Committee on Restrictions Against Disabled People, and to the Access Week which that committee is sponsoring.
Ministers and officials in this Department have frequent contact with disabled people and are well aware of their access problems. Several people working in the Department, including senior officials, are in wheelchairs. We are always conscious of their needs and try to meet them.