HC Deb 30 January 1985 vol 72 cc220-1W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grants are available for the provision of ramps to polling stations to assist voters confined to wheelchairs; how much has been spent for this purpose in each of the last 10 years; and for each year how many applications for grants have been (a) received and (b) granted.

Mr. Lawson

No specific financial allocation is made to cover grants for the provision of ramps at polling stations as an aid to disabled voters. However, all acting returning officers have been formally advised by the Home Office that the Treasury is prepared to meet half of the cost of purchasing portable ramps for disabled voters at polling stations provided that the local authorities responsible for the conduct of local elections at those stations are content to meet the other half.

It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to produce figures for each of the last 10 years of expenditure on ramps or of the numbers of applications recieved and granted by the Treasury from acting returning officers for contributions towards such expenditure.