§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to ensure that polling stations are accessible to a disabled person wishing to vote independently. [15477]
§ Mr. George HowarthDistrict and London Borough Councils are statutorily required to designate as polling places, so far as is reasonable and practicable, only places which are accessible to the disabled. Acting returning officers may apply to the Home Office and Scottish Office for grants towards the cost of providing temporary ramps and specially adapted polling screens to make polling stations accessible for those disabled voters who wish to vote in person. There is no limit on the number of applications which they may make for grant assistance. The Government are also considering the report "Polls Apart 2" published by SCOPE to see what further advice might be provided to acting returning officers.