Disability (Hansard, 27 May 1993)

§ Mr. McMaster
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has an advisory committee on disability issues.

§ Mr. Stewart
No, but the Department is represented on a number of committees which consider disability issues.

§ Mr. McMaster
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those buildings used by his Department which(a) have and (b) do not have adequate access for people with mobility disabilities; what plans he has to improve each; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Lang
The Scottish Office currently uses 93 buildings, mainly offices. There is adequate access for people with mobility disabilities to 54 of these, which include all our major buildings. Access is less good at the other 39, which are mainly small premises. Action to improve access is taken as resources permit although the design of some older or smaller local offices makes that difficult. Plans are in hand to improve access to the offices in Elgin and Stornoway.