HC Deb 14 June 1984 vol 61 cc548-9W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of Stale for the Environment which organisations were circulated in February 1983 with the consultation letter enclosing the proposed amendment to the Building Regulations: Access Facilities in Buildings for the Benefit of the Disabled; which organisations responded to the consultations; and what were the views expressed by the disability organisations.

Mr. Gow

The Department's consultation letter of 7 February 1983 was sent to more than 300 organisations which are always consulted on any proposals for new building regulations. An additional 39 disability organisations were consulted at that time. I have sent to the right hon. Member lists of those organisations consulted.

I am also sending the right hon. Gentleman a list of the 30 organisations representing disabled people which responded. They all supported the principle of extending building regulations to require the provision of access and facilities for disabled people throughout buildings. Most argued that the proposed building regulations should apply to conversions and extensions as well as to new buildings, and some considered that the provision of wheelchair spaces in auditoria and sports stadia was too low. They generally welcomed our suggestion that there should be no exempt categories of building. Some disability groups criticised the draft regulations because they did not require the provision of escape facilities in the event of fire.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which organisations were circulated with (a) the letter dated 1 March 1983 inviting comments on the proposed new building regulations and (b) the revised draft of the new building regulation circulated on 29 February; and which organisations replied to each of the consultations.

Mr. Gow

There was no consultation letter of 1 March 1983 inviting comments on proposed new building regulations. The Department did, however, issue such a consultation on 30 March 1983. Both this and the revised draft regulations consultation of 29 February 1984 were distributed to more than 300 organisations which are always consulted on proposals for new building regulations. I am sending to the right hon. Member lists of these organisations.

115 organisations responded to the 1983 consultation and 79 to the 1984 revision. Again, I am sending lists to the right hon. Member.