HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 c1079W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps his Department is taking to promote good practice on making play areas more accessible for disabled children. [139674]

Yvette Cooper

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published Developing "Accessible Play Space"–"A Good Practice Guide" on 12 November 2003. Copies of these are available in the Libraries of the House. "Developing Accessible Play Space"–"A Good Practice Guide" gives practical advice to play space providers on how to make outdoor play areas more accessible for disabled children. It will help play space providers to understand the issues that disabled children and their families face when using play spaces, and provides good practice examples of how to improve existing space as well as issues to consider when creating new ones.

Copies of the guide have been sent to all local authorities in England, as well as to housing associations and other play space providers. The guide is also available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website www.odpm.gov.uk