§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has regarding legislation or other action to ensure that the needs of the disabled are provided for in decisions on planning applications.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordGuidance on access issues is contained in my Department's planning policy guidance note 1 "General Policy and Principles" and in planning policy guidance note 3, "Housing". This guidance encourages developers and local authorities to consider access issues at an early stage in the design process. In general, however, the needs of disabled people to have access to buildings are secured through the Building Regulations. Part M of these regulations now define the access requirements to all storeys of non-domestic buildings and to most extensions. On 12 January, my Department issued a consultation paper proposing that the scope of the regulations should be extended to cover access for disabled people to all new dwellings.