HC Deb 25 October 1982 vol 29 cc322-5W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will lay before Parliament a report under section 8B of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act ; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young:

My right hon. Friend is considering the replies to the consultation paper on the implementation of section 6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981. After that, we shall be in a position to consider the timing and content of the report required under section 7 of that Act.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a decision on the implementation of section 6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young:

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement soon.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the organisations that have responded to the consultative letter on the implementation of section 6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981 opposed the Department's proposal that the "prescribed body" be the Building Regulations Advisory Committee.

Sir George Young:

Thirty-two.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations that have replied to the consultation letter on the implementation of section 6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981.

Sir George Young:

My Department received comments from the following:

  • Access Co-ordinator for the Disabled in Bolton
  • Access for the disabled—Leeds Metropolitan District
  • Association of District Councils
  • Associations of Ballrooms Ltd.
  • Association of Bournemouth Organisations for the Disabled
  • Association of British Theatre Technicians
  • Association of Consulting Engineers
  • Association of Independent Businesses
  • Association of Independent Cinemas
  • Association of Metropolitan Authorities
  • Association of Retail Distributors
  • Basildon Development Corporation
  • Beecham Products
  • Bexley Access Group
  • Birmingham Co-ordinating Committee for the Welfare of the Handicapped
  • Borough of Haringey
  • Borough of Hove
  • Borough of Sunderland
  • Council for the Disabled
  • Brentwood Access Group
  • Brewers' Society
  • British Airports Authority
  • British Automatic Sprinkler Association
  • British Bingo Association
  • British Ceramic Research Association
  • British Concrete Masonry Association
  • British Gas Corporation
  • British Multiple Retailers' Association
  • British Parking Association
  • British Polio Fellowship
  • British Railways Board
  • British Standards Institution
  • Building Services Research and Information Association
  • Mr. D. I. Cathcart
  • Central Electricity Generating Board
  • Central Lancashire Association for the Disabled
  • Centre on Environment for the Handicapped
  • Chartered Institution of Building Services
  • 324
  • Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association
  • Churches' Main Committee
  • Cinematograph Exhibitors Association of Great Britain and Ireland
  • City of Birmingliam—planning department
  • CLASP Development Group
  • Clwyd county council
  • Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom
  • Confederation of British Industry
  • Consortium Local Authorities Wales
  • Constructional Steel Research and Development Organisation
  • Construction Plant-Hire Association
  • Co-operative Union Ltd.
  • Disabled Living Foundation
  • District Council Technical Association
  • District Surveyors Association
  • Electric Cable Makers Confederation
  • Electricity Council
  • Exeter Access Committee
  • Exeter city council
  • Faculty of Building
  • Farmers Union of Wales
  • Fibre Building Board Development Organisation Ltd.
  • Fire Insurers' Re search and Testing Organisation
  • Fire Protection Association
  • Greater London Building Surveyors Association
  • Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
  • Guildford borough council—Access for the Disabled Group
  • Guild of Surveyors
  • Hammersmith and Fulham Association for the Disabled
  • Health and Safety Executive
  • Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors
  • Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers
  • Independent Broadcasting Authority
  • Institute of Quantity Surveyors
  • Institution of Building Control Officers
  • Institution of Electrical Engineers
  • Institution of Municipal Engineers
  • Institution of Public Health Engineers
  • Joint Committee on Mobility for the Disabled
  • Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People
  • Mr. N. K. Kirk—consultant: Designing for the Disabled
  • Leicester city council
  • Leonard Cheshire Foundation
  • Liverpool Association for the Disabled
  • London Boroughs' Association
  • London Transport Executive
  • Manufacturers of Domestic Unvented Supply Systems Equipment
  • Mastic Asphalt Council and Employers' Federation Ltd
  • Metropolitan Police Office
  • National Association of Licensed Bingo and Social Clubs
  • National Association of Local Councils
  • National Consumer Council
  • National Farmers Union
  • National Federation of Building Trades Employers
  • National Federation of Housing Associations
  • National Federation of Master Steeplejacks and Lighting Conductor Engineers
  • National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting
  • National Westminister Bank plc
  • Newcastle-upon-Tyne Council for the Disabled
  • New Towns Association
  • North-West Surrey Liberal Association
  • Open Sesame
  • Paint Makers Association of Great Britain Ltd
  • Portsmouth Council of Community Service
  • Portsmouth and District Disability Informatiom and Advice Line
  • Post Office
  • Property Services Agency
  • Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for the Disabled
  • Rotherham and District Association for the Disabled
  • Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation
  • Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea
  • Royal British Legion
  • Royal Instituteof British Architects
  • 325
  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
  • Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
  • Royal Town Planning Institute
  • Science and Engineering Research Council
  • Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
  • Second Consortium of Local Authorities
  • Society of Chief Building Regulation Officers
  • South Lakeland Council for the Disabled
  • Spastics Society
  • Spinal Injuries Association
  • Swedish-Finnish Timber Council
  • Tonbridge and Mailing District Council
  • Trent Polytechnic—Department of Building and Environmental Health
  • UK Federation of Business and Professional Women
  • Rt Hon The Viscount Ingleby
  • Wales Council for the Disabled
  • Welsh Consumer Council
  • Welwyn Hatfield district council
  • West Sussex Association for the Disabled, andYarsley Technical Centre.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will study any recommendations he receives based on the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1981 before taking a decision on the implementation of section 6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981.

Sir George Young:

Yes.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Scottish Development Department was invited to comment on his Department's proposals for the implementation of section 6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981, in view of the fact that this part of the Act applies only to Wales and England; and whether he received any comment from it.

Sir George Young:

The Scottish Development Department is on the standard consultation list maintained by my Department. We have received no comments from it.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the circular to local authorities DoE 59/78 on "Adaptation of Housing for People who are Physically Handicapped" remains in force; and whether the list of "structural" features in appendix 1 of that circular is exhaustive.

Sir George Young:

Circular 59/78 is still operative. The list of structural features in appendix 1 is not exhaustive, as the circular indicates.

Local Authorities New Towns Housing Associations Total
Building for sale*
1979–80 565 5 570
1980–81 1,140 1,140
1981–82 3,020 3,050 6,070
1982–83 (1st quarter only) 730 1,200 1,930
Total 5,455 4,255 9,710
Improvement for Sale
1979–80
1980–81 15 30 45
1981–82 145 655 800
1982–83 (1st quarter only) 95 250 345
Total 255 935 1,190