Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Carter (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 20 March 2006.

Disability: Welfare Reform Green Paper

Question: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. However, is he aware that, five years ago, his department published guidance entitled Let's make it accessible, which advised all government departments that information that directly affected disabled people should be given a priority for accessibility? Is he further aware that accessible formats were delayed on the equality White Paper, the Equality Bill, the draft Disability Discrimination Bill and the Youth Matters Green Paper? Those are only a few; there are more. Does my noble friend agree that this is in fact a subtle form of discrimination and that there must be an urgent review across government to see that it is stopped? If it is not, government departments might find themselves in breach of the Act.

Answer: My Lords, I take my noble friend's point. I can tell him that my department is reviewing the guidance on accessible formats as part of a substantial departmental review of provision of customer information. As for the Government as a whole, my noble friend will be aware of the establishment of the Office for Disability Issues, which is enabling us to look at disability issues across the whole of government. I have talked to my honourable friend the Minister for Disabled People this morning, and she has made it clear to me that one of the first tasks of the ODI will be to look at information across the whole of government.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 680 c7
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Access Disability Administrative delays Equality Government departments Publishing Consultation papers Official publications