§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 have been followed in tourism and leisure businesses in respect of designated wheelchair (a) accessible showers and shower seats; (b) accessible transport where courtesy vehicles are used to transport guests in package holidays; (c) access to conference rooms; and in respect of (d) acceptability of assistance dogs in restaurants and all public areas. [HL4803]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)It is for individual tourism and leisure businesses to determine what action they need to take to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to deal with barriers and take reasonable steps to deal with them. Details of how individual businesses are meeting their obligations under the Act are not available but the Government want disabled people to take a full and active part in society and be able to enjoy a wide variety of holidays and tourism-related activities.
DDA is not prescriptive as to what a reasonable adjustment might be. Relaxing a ban on animals in order to allow assistance dogs, or improving physical access for wheelchair users to shower and use conference facilities, are examples of adjustments which may be reasonable in certain circumstances.
Visit Britain's National Accessible Scheme for serviced and self-catering accommodation sets out accessibility standards for mobility impairment, which includes those for showers and access to public areas including bars, restaurants, dining rooms, conference, banqueting and entertainment facilities. The scheme is voluntary and so far approximately 565 properties have a rating against the mobility standard.
The provisions, which are being introduced in the forthcoming Disability Discrimination Bill, will allow coaches used on tours and other excursions, as well as other transport services, to be brought within, the scope of the provisions of Part 3 of the DDA.