HC Deb 12 March 2002 vol 381 cc887-8W
Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support will be made available to small businesses to enable them to comply with the legal requirement to provide disabled access once the extension of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is implemented in October 2004. [39770]

Nigel Griffiths

The Small Business Service is currently working with the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) to produce a factsheet and audio guide informing small businesses about the requirements of the DDA, including the requirement which will be implemented in October 2004.

The DRC published a revised Code of Practice on rights of access to goods, facilities, services and premises for disabled people on 26 February 2002. This statutory code explains the law and provides practical guidance for service providers on their current duties and those that will come into force in 2004.

As well as the code, the DRC have recently published "A practical guide for small businesses and other small service providers". The guide offers advice on how small businesses and service providers might meet the needs of their disabled customers. A range of leaflets focusing on specific types of business is also available from the DRC. Advice and information on all aspects of the DDA is available via the DRC helpline.

The Government are also working on raising awareness of the DDA among small businesses. In January we launched a large national campaign which featured small businesses in seven adverts on the theme of "How well do you serve your disabled customers?"