Forum Brief: Draft Disability Bill

The government's draft Disability Discrimination Bill should be toughened up in key areas, a parliamentary committee has recommended.

Party Response: Conservative

Paul Goodman, shadow disability minister, said: "A cross party group of MPs and peers has examined this draft Bill and suggested ways to improve the legislation, I hope the government listens and acts on the proposals as a matter of urgency.

"It was a Labour Party manifesto commitment to help the 10 million disabled adults in the UK and I urge the government not to drag its feet any longer on bringing forward this legislation.

"A full Bill must be published as soon as possible in order for this important legislation to be passed into law. If the government delays any longer the proposals could be lost as we move towards a likely date for the next general election."

Forum Response: Disability Rights Commission

Bert Massie, chairman of the DRC, said: "This is great news for disabled people and, if implemented by the government, will close a major loophole in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). 

"The government has been committed to introducing basic civil rights for disabled people using public transport since the 1997 manifesto so it’s been a long journey.  The government has already committed itself to a timetable to make vehicles accessible but achieving this would be meaningless if disabled people could not use public transport because of the current legal position.

“The DRC has long argued for provision to be made in law to prevent landlords and management committees unreasonably refusing permission for disabled people to put in adaptations to their homes to help them get around. 

"We are therefore pleased that the joint committee agrees with us and is urging the government to include this in the draft Bill.

"We congratulate the committee for producing such a thorough, accessible and authoritative report with proposals for delivering immediate benefits for disabled people as well as a longer term agenda for change."

Forum Response: National Autistic Society

Stuart Notholt, director of policy and public affairs, at the NAS said: "As autism is a hidden disability it is important that disability legislation spells out the social and communication difficulties experienced by people with autistic spectrum disorders.

"We urge the government to implement this recommendation in order to strengthen the DDA’s ability to protect people with autistic spectrum disorders."

Forum Response: Leonard Cheshire

John Knight, Leonard Cheshire’s head of policy, said: "The committee has given the government a golden opportunity to back this proposal and commit to a measure that will really have a positive impact on disabled people’s lives.

"Now the government must seize that opportunity, support the committee’s recommendations and get the train companies aboard.

"An end-date of 2017 would still mean that disabled people would have to wait over a decade before the rail network would be fully accessible to them, but at least it offers hope for the future.  Leonard Cheshire thanks the 130 MPs who signed EDM 876 and the thousands of people who supported the 'All Aboard!' campaign this year.

"Now we need the government to adopt the date 2017 within the Bill and introduce it into this parliamentary session; we need assurances that the date will be met and without any further delay."

Forum Brief: Depression Alliance

Jim Thomson, chief executive of Depression Alliance, said: "Depression Alliance broadly welcomes the Bill but feels that it could go a lot further to protect the rights of those affected by mental illness, of which people with depression make up the majority.

"This Bill is the first step in a long process of cultural change to establish that depression and other mental illness are seen and treated equally with ‘physical’ illness, and that people affected by these conditions are entitled to the same basic human rights that most of us enjoy. We hope that when the proposed Mental Health Bill makes a re-appearance it will be the next step in this process of positive change."

Forum Brief: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Tom Pey, Guide Dogs' director of policy, said: "Guide Dogs welcomes the recommendations put forward by the committee which are extremely important in improving the rights of disabled people. We would urge the government to ensure these recommendations are included in the Disability Discrimination Bill.

"As the largest provider of mobility services for blind and partially sighted people Guide Dogs particularly welcomes the recommendation that the requirements of Part three of the Disability Discrimination Act are extended to transport providers. Under this stations, timetables etc must be made accessible to disabled people, however, transport vehicles are exempt from this requirement.

"Guide Dogs also particularly welcomes the recommendation that all trains should be made accessible by 2017, the same date as the government has set for making all buses accessible."

Forum Response: Royal National Institute of the Blind

Steve Winyard, RNIB's head of public policy, said: "The report contains many

recommendations that are of vital importance for blind and partially sighted

people.

 

"In particular we welcome the committee's recommendations on transport, making adaptations to accommodation, examining bodies and standard setting agencies, volunteers and giving employment tribunals the power to order reinstatement or re-engagement.

 

"We now urge the government to include the many excellent recommendations the joint committee have made in the forthcoming disability bill and introduce it into parliament at the earliest possible opportunity."

 

Forum Response: Disabilities Trust

 

Matt Townsend, public affairs officer for the Disabilities Trust, said: "The Disabilities Trust welcomes the publication of the joint committee's report.

 

"It is of great value to have clear recommendations from such a respected group of cross-party MPs and peers. Although it is important that the legislation is not rushed, (leaving the possibility it will remain flawed), with an election perhaps less than a year away, time is pressing and we join with others in urging the government to ensure that there is parliamentary time for the Bill to go through the House, in this session.

 

"On specifics, while the recommendations over trains are welcome, 2017 is still some way off and as a result adequate access to public transport remains a source of great frustration for many disabled as well as older, people.

 

"It is very important that the government accept this particular recommendation from the joint committee and ensure that all trains are fully accessible as soon as possible."