26/11/2004

New Bill to offer better services for disabled people

The government has outlined proposals today aimed at improving access to services for people with disabilities.

The new measures, part of the Disabilities Discrimination Bill, include extending the support for those living with progressive conditions like HIV, Multiple Sclerosis and cancer as soon as they are diagnosed.

The plans will also ensure that access to public transport and public services, like the issuing of driving licences, is improved.

Work and Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson said that there would be a new duty on public bodies to "promote equality of opportunity" for disabled people.

Minister for Disabled People Maria Eagle said: "The Bill will have a real and meaningful impact on the lives of disabled people. Its measures would mean that the public sector would be required to consider the needs of disabled people rather than waiting for a complaint or a problem to arise.

"It would make challenging discrimination much easier and result in improvements to everyday activities such as using public transport."

The Bill aims to build on the Disability Discrimination Act which provides extensive protection for disabled people against discrimination in areas like employment, education, transport and access to goods and services.

New provisions which came into force on 1 October 2004 increased protection for disabled people in employment and in access to goods and services.

(gmcg)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 November 2004
All trains to accommodate disabled passengers by 2020
Transport Minister Charlotte Atkins revealed today that by 2020 all trains in the UK will accommodate disabled passengers. The announcement follows the recent introduction of the Disability Discrimination Bill in the House of Lords and continues the government's efforts to provide a transport system which respects the needs of all travellers.
12 June 2003
Viewers 'more accepting' than broadcasters of disabled on TV
Television viewers seem to be ahead of broadcast professionals when it comes to the depiction of disabled people on television, according to research published today.
11 June 2009
Consultation Will Give Disabled People More Control
A national consultation that could dramatically change the way every disabled person lives their life is being launched today by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper. Right to Control is a shake up of the way disabled people can use the funding they receive from the state.
01 October 2004
Britain's 10m disabled gain new rights from today
Around 10 million disabled people are set to benefit from new legislation coming into force today designed to improve rights for the disabled on the high street and in the workplace.
31 July 2012
Disabled People Worry About ‘Benefit Scrounger’ Discrimination
With a month to go to until the Paralympics, new research by disability charity Scope shows that almost half (46%) of disabled people feel that attitudes towards them have worsened in the last year.