§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he will take to ensure that the Disability Rights Commissioner provides technical support to employers and service providers in Coventry. [85153]
§ Ms HodgeThe Disability Rights Commission Bill is currently before Parliament. The commission, when established, will be an independent statutory body which will prepare and review statutory codes of practice and make arrangements for conciliation in the field of access to goods, facilities, services and premises. It will also provide a central source of information and advice to employers, service providers and disabled people.
It will be for the Commission to determine how best to provide its services to all its stakeholders when it is established and to report on its activities through its annual report to Parliament.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding the introduction of the Disability Rights Commission and its impact on business competitiveness. [85151]
§ Ms HodgeA public consultation on the Government White Paper, "Promoting Disabled People's Rights—Creating a Disability Rights Commission fit for the 21stCentury", was held last year.
7,000 individuals and organisations were sent a copy of the White Paper or a summary of it. Out of 626 responses (of which 12 per cent. were identified as coming from businesses or organisations representing business interests) 94 per cent. supported the main proposals on the establishment and role of the Commission. An analysis of responses compiled by an independent market research organisation will be placed in the Library in the near future.
Five national consultation conferences on the White Paper held in September and October 1998 were attended by over 300 delegates from the business, public and voluntary sectors. The views of the delegates are also reflected in the report.