§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to bring forward draft regulations requiring developers to take specific account of the needs of the disabled and the elderly.
§ Mr. GowThe Department has carried out a public consultation on draft regulations to require the provision of access to all floors of new shops and offices and other new single storey public buildings.
I intend to introduce new building regulations as soon as possible to require the provision of access for disabled people to such buildings.
The proposed regulations will be extended to other types of public buildings as soon as a comprehensive technical code is available on means of escape for disabled people in the event of fire.