HL Deb 14 February 2000 vol 609 cc124-5WA
Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are their plans for bringing the aviation industry within the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [HL903]

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)

We are currently working with the aviation industry—airlines and airports—and with our disability advisers—the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee—to draw up a voluntary code of practice for the aviation industry covering the transport needs of disabled people. We will be consulting on the draft this summer.

We are also considering a proposal from the Disability Rights Task Force which recommends that we take a reserve regulation making power to require the aviation industry to comply with the code of practice if the voluntary approach fails.