Lord Campbell of Croyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action was taken, in the June 1987 general election, to ensure that disabled people confined to wheelchairs could enter polling stations and vote without meeting steps or other obstacles.
The Earl of CaithnessSection 18 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 places a particular obligation on district and London borough councils to designate as polling places, so far as is reasonable and practicable, only places which are accessible to disabled electors. This requirement is supplemented by our guidance to returning officers, which says that the Treasury will provide grants towards the cost of portable ramps so that wheelchairs can enter polling stations easily. Information on the action taken by local authorities is not available centrally.