Euro-MP welcomes landmark day for disabled people

5.08.35pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Sep 2004

The Disability Discrimination Act, which has been on the statute book since 1995 finally becomes law in full tomorrow. West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne, who as an MP was on the House of Commons Committee which scrutinised the bill, called this is a landmark day for disabled people in the UK.

The Act states that where a physical barrier makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to use a service, that barrier must be addressed. This can be done either by removing it, altering it or providing an alternative to the barrier.

It has been implemented in stages in order for businesses to adapt their premises to comply. However, research carried out by the Disability Rights Commission suggests that despite being given 9 years to comply as many as 80% of businesses on Britain's high streets are unprepared for the new law.

The Liberal Democrat MEP says:

"This is a landmark day for disabled people everywhere in the UK. For the first time they have the law on their side in ending discrimination in the workplace no matter the size of the company.

"I am disappointed that in a survey by the Disability Rights Commission and NOP on disabled people's access, they found there were still major problems with cinemas and public transport in Birmingham. Although I am pleased their overall experience of shopping was positive and the staff were helpful.

"However it is a disgrace that 4 out of 5 city centres in the UK still pose significant problems for disabled shoppers while almost a quarter of the 88 British High Street businesses surveyed were rated as 'poor' or 'very poor'.

"Some of the blame for non compliance lies with a lack of education and urgency from the government but in most cases companies can have no excuses for not adhering to this law. People have known about this date for nine years and they should have acted before now.

"Disabled people have been waiting a long time for this day and I am sure they will want to see their rights enforced. This legislation will bring equality for disabled people closer but other areas like transport still remain exempt from the disability discrimination act. It is time that bus, train and airline companies were subject to the same rules as everyone else."

ENDS

Notes To Editors

As well as being the rapporteur of the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003, Liz also drafted the Parliament's report supporting a UN Convention on Disabled People's Rights earlier that year.

As an MP she campaigned for equal rights for disabled people and worked on the Disability Discrimination Act.

The NOP survey for the Disability Rights Commission sent disabled and non-disabled mystery shoppers to 11 major high streets across the country. The disabled shoppers either had a mobility impairment or were a wheelchair user. The locations were: London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Norwich, Southampton, Plymouth, Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne and Newport in Wales.

You can view the Disability Rights Commission Survey at

http://www.drc-gb.org/newsroom/newsdetails.asp?id=727&section=1

Or you can contact Alyson Rose at the DRC press office on 020 7543 7044