Disabled People (Hansard, 5 April 1995)

§ Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proposals he has to improve the adaptability of existing district and sheriff courts in relation to the needs of people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement; [18042]

(2) if he will list the sheriff courts which provide independent access for disabled citizens both in terms of access and egress and freedom of movement within such buildings; and if he will make a statement; [18040]

(3) if he will list the sheriff courts which have (a) sound enhancement systems for those citizens with impaired hearing, (b) lavatories for disabled people and (c) accessible refreshment facilities for disabled people; and if he will make a statement; [18043]

(4) if he will list the sheriff courts which do not comply with those building regulations which determine access and freedom of movement criteria for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [18041]

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The detailed information requested is shown in the table. District courts are the responsibility of the district and island councils.

All new sheriff court houses are designed to ensure that disabled people have access to all public areas. A long-term programme of building improvements is being implemented, a major purpose of which is to improve access and facilities for the disabled at existing court houses.

1263W

Disabled facilities
	Independent access to
Sheriff Courts	Public offices	Toilets	At least one courtroom	Restaurant	Sound enhancement	Induction loops
Dunoon	*	*			*	*
Duns
Edinburgh	*	*	*	*	*	*
Elgin	*	*	*
Falkirk	*	*	*	*	*	*
Forfar	*	*	*		*	*
Fort William
Glasgow	*	*	*	*	*	*
Greenock	*	*	*		*	*
Haddington
Hamilton				*	*
Inverness
Jedburgh	*	*	*			*
Kilmarnock	*	*	*	*	*	*
Kirkcaldy	*	*	*		*	*
Kirkcudbright	*	*		*	*	*
Kirkwall
Lanark					*	*
Lerwick	*	*
Linlithgow	*	*	*		*	*
Lochmaddy
Oban		*
Paisley	*	*	*		*	*
Peebles
Perth	*	*	*		*	*
Peterhead		*	*			*
Portree
Rothesay	*	*			*	*
Selkirk	*	*	*		*	*
Stirling	*	*	*		*	*
Stonehaven					*	*
Stornoway
Stranraer					*	*
Tain
Wick						*
* Independent access.