§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access for disabled people in wheelchairs to the museums and galleries for which he has responsibility. [17169]
§ Mr. FisherAccess to the museums and galleries for which this Department is responsible is generally good, though some constraints are imposed by the historic buildings in which the collections are located. Many already allow full access to wheelchair users, and in most other cases nearly all of the collections are accessible. Among the facilities provided are: designated parking, ramps, lifts, specially designed lavatories, low-height telephones and low-height labelling of exhibits. Many institutions also have wheelchairs available for use and provide special training for staff.
However, there is no room for complacency. Recent advances in information technology have been used to provide visual displays where access to the actual display itself is not available. Where new building is underway, special attention is being paid to the needs of wheelchair users with the aid of expert advice.
My Department is carrying out a review of access to the national museums and galleries and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be reporting shortly on the progress of that review.