HL Deb 07 November 1996 vol 575 cc70-1WA
Baroness Gould of Potternewton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any extra funding is to be made available to ensure that all polling stations are accessible to disabled people.

Baroness Blatch

Acting returning officers may apply to the Home Office for grants towards the cost of providing temporary ramps, where it is not possible for them to use as a polling place a building which is accessible for the disabled. We have not set a limit on the number of applications which an acting returning officer may make for such grants. Between 1992 and 1995, a total of £131,680 was provided for these purposes. Expenditure in the current financial year is already £35,244; this compares with £17,948 at the last general election. Grants are also available for specially adapted polling screens for use by the disabled. No separate figures for grants for special polling screens are available.