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."