DDB 109 FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES
TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION
BILL
MEMORANDUM FROM THE FEDERATION OF
SMALL BUSINESSES TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT DISABILITY
DISCRIMINATION BILL
Monday 22 March
1. Introduction
The FSB represents the interests of
self-employed and owners of small businesses. Although founded
as recently as 1974 it now has over 185,000 members across all
industries, trades and services. FSB members together employ 1.25
million people.
1.1 There are 8.7 million disabled
people in the UK and the FSB does inform its members that no business
can afford to ignore customers with an annual spending power of
£45 billion.
1.2 The FSB was represented on the
Disability Rights Task Force along with the CBI, BCC and IOD.
1.3 The FSB provides a free 24-hour
legal advice line to its members covering disability legislation.
1.4 The FSB in-house magazine carries
a feature on the DDA in each edition.
2. Transport
Extending the DDA to cover discrimination
in relation to the use in the means of transport will have implications
for taxis, private hire vehicles and private rental and car hire
firms. The quicker the timetable on regulations (to lift the part
III exception from transport operators) is tabled, the better
it will be for such operators who are in the main small businesses.
The move may be very beneficial in clamping down on unsafe operators
in this sector.
3. Discrimination by Public Authorities
We
have no comment on this aspect.
4. Private Clubs
Whilst we have no objection to extending
the DDA to private clubs perhaps a staged approach would be better.
We would urge that initially clubs with 50 or more members should
be covered. In the meantime clubs with between 25 and 50 members
should be informed that the Act will apply to them in say a years
time giving the smallest of the private clubs with little resources
time to prepare.
5. Letting of Premises
We agree with the written evidence
given by the National housing Federation on this aspect namely,
a very clear definition of reasonableness in needed here and special
statutory provisions so that funds are available to smaller land
lords to enable effective implementation of this element of the
bill.
6. Duties of Public Authorities
We have no comment on this aspect.
7. Definition of Disability
A final, settled and comprehensive
definition of disability will be helpful to the business sector.
8. Councillors
We have no comment on this aspect.
9. Other aspects
As a volunteer organisation itself
the FSB has no objection in extending the protection of the law
to volunteers, provided a pool of funding on the lines of the
Access to Work scheme were put in place by the DWP.
9.1 There is some pressure to make
part III DDA cases enforceable through employment tribunals. This
should only be done by copying the proposals, which will streamline
equal value employment tribunal cases.
10. Compliance Cost for Business
The DWP estimates that landlords may
face costs of around £650,000 as a result of extending to
them the duty of reasonable adjustment. Many of these landlords
will be small businesses. Given the costs to service providers
in the taxi and private hire sector there may be an argument for
such training to be part funded by government.
The Federation of Small Businesses
Parliamentary Office
2 Catherine Place
Westminster
London SW1E 6HF
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