Joint Committee on the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill Written Evidence


DDB 99 Sefton Pensioners Advocacy Centre

HOUSE OF COMMONS

LONDON SWiA OAA

From Dr John Pugh MP


25 February 2004


Dear Lord Carter,


I am writing to you in your capacity as a member of the Joint Committee on the Draft Disability Bill.

It has been drawn to my attention that there is nothing in current legislation that protects disabled and elderly people living in leasehold flats without lifts in cases where they would wish to install stair-lifts. At the moment there has to be unanimous agreement from all other residents before installation can take place. This means that just one resident can refuse permission even if health and safety requirements are complied with.

I enclose a letter sent to me by the Sefton Pensioners Advocacy Centre highlighting this problem and I would urge you to consider it in your deliberations.


Yours sincerely,


Mr John Pugh MP

House of Commons

London

05/02/04

Dear Mr Pugh

We are an independent voluntary organisation that works with and for older people in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton. I would like to draw to your attention an issue, which I have been dealing with recently and which is likely to affect many older and disabled people in the future.

The situation involves the installation of stair-lifts in blocks of leasehold flats, which do not have a lift. I understand that, at present, anyone needing a stair-lift to be installed in the common parts of the building, needs to have permission from the other residents. If the Occupational Therapy Departments of Social Services are to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant, they insist that there is unanimous agreement by all of the residents. This means that one or two residents who, perhaps unreasonably, refuse to give their permission, can prevent a disabled person from getting access to their flat and may ultimately force that person to move home.

I have been told by the Disability Rights Commission, that there is nothing in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 or the new regulations that are due to come into force in October, that are relevant to this issue. I was also told that there is a new disability bill that has been introduced into Parliament, during this session. I would be interested to know whether there is anything in the bill, which would help in the above situation or whether, if not, a provision could be added to the bill.

It seems to me that disabled people, who need a stair-lift should be allowed to have one installed as of right, provided that health and safety requirements are complied with. This is arguably more important to such a person than the access to supermarkets and other public buildings that has already been the subject of legislation.

I would be interested to hear your views on this matter.

Yours sincerely




Jean Sullivan

Advocate

Sefton Pensioners' Advocacy Centre - Registered Charity No: 1055951

Working with Older People throughout Sefton




 
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