Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access

Yesterday I asked the Speaker of the House of Commons to investigate why, last week, people with disabilities left Parliament feeling disappointed – and in some cases humiliated – after trying to attend a debate on disabled access to public transport.

Watch my question, and the Speaker’s reply:

The response from the House authorities has been swift and genuine. The constraints of the Parliamentary building are obvious and on so many occasions the House staff rise to the challenges it presents.

The fact that we, collectively, fell short on this occasion makes me wonder, not about the will of the staff involved who are clearly dedicated to ensuring access for all, but about whether in 2011 we have outgrown a building that cannot cater easily for the 12 million people with disabilities in the UK.

Sadly, the response from the House of Commons is not always replicated elsewhere. Nearly 16 years after the Disability Discrimination Act that offered hope to people across the country, many of my constituents are still unable to get on a train or a bus to take part in activities that many of us take for granted – going to work, shopping or seeing friends.

In advance of last week’s debate I was inundated with stories of people left stranded, unable to get on or off trains and buses. Nearly half of all train stations do not have level access, London Underground remains largely a no-go area for people in wheelchairs and people whose disabilities are not obvious told me they had been questioned to a humiliating degree about their concessionary pass.

Running through all of these stories like a thread was a common story of humiliation and anxiety that is entirely inappropriate in 2011.

Yet despite progress urgently needed, there is a risk this situation is not getting better, but worse. With cancelled station upgrades, ticket office closures and abolished concessionary fares, it is not at all clear that by 2020 we will even have met the most basic requirements promised to people by legislation passed 16 years ago.

It would be relatively easy to solve this situation. government has enormous purchasing power – nearly half of bus operating revenue comes from the taxpayer and train company franchises are constantly renewed. It is time we took this seriously and made it our top priority.

Early next year the West Coast Mainline franchise is renewed. This will be the first key test for government since the promises made in last week’s debate and I am seeking a commitment disabled access will be a priority for the successful company. Action on this issue is long overdue and for 12 million people in the UK it simply cannot wait.

See also:

• Yet another nasty in the welfare bill: Means testing support for the disabled-since-youth – Declan Gaffney, September 22nd 2011

• Disabled people fear further impoverishment as cuts begin to hit – Kaliya Franklin, September 1st 2011

• Help stop government changes to welfare penalising disabled children – Sam Royston, August 15th 2011

• The three things Cameron should know about sickness and disability benefits – Declan Gaffney, July 27th 2011

• DWP admits disability reform based on dodgy figures, as reported by Left Foot Forward – Declan Gaffney, August 11th 2011

http://twitter.com/ladycatlover/status/126313469715820544 Maggie W

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem, says @lisanandy. She's right… http://t.co/Zijhhq7q
http://twitter.com/lisanandy/status/126314042817122305 Lisa Nandy

My @leftfootfwd blog on how disabled access to Parl highlights wider issues of disabled access http://t.co/xQL3aBX8
http://twitter.com/superpaddy1601/status/126314375341555712 Edward Leathem

My @leftfootfwd blog on how disabled access to Parl highlights wider issues of disabled access http://t.co/xQL3aBX8
http://twitter.com/fireballdarren/status/126320434303090688 Darren Burgoyne

RT @lisanandy My @leftfootfwd blog on how disabled access to Parl highlights wider issues of disabled access http://t.co/BkdNlTIl
http://twitter.com/trouper29/status/126326749465280512 Alice Murphy

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/NgP01n2C
http://twitter.com/glo_man/status/126334072325812224 Keith Saunders

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/NgP01n2C
http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/126350741404270593 Michael

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access l Lisa Nandy l Left Foot Forward – http://t.co/zMpjTq82
http://twitter.com/pissedprole/status/126350864217669633 Pissed Proletariat

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access l Lisa Nandy l Left Foot Forward – http://t.co/zMpjTq82
http://twitter.com/lisajames/status/126351095990714368 Lisa James

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access http://t.co/IrFmEkq8
http://twitter.com/labour52rose/status/126359806884843520 Alex Braithwaite

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access http://t.co/7D27UtEz
http://twitter.com/lcdcampaigns/status/126601668862279680 LCD Campaigns

See Lisa Nandy MP's blog on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/wYeurHIZ
http://twitter.com/jacqkelly/status/126603306314371072 Jacq Kelly

RT @lcdcampaigns: See Lisa Nandy MP's blog on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/jZ1eDq97
http://twitter.com/jacqkelly/status/126603306314371072 Jacq Kelly

RT @lcdcampaigns: See Lisa Nandy MP's blog on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/jZ1eDq97
http://twitter.com/actionduchenne/status/126605437096312833 Action Duchenne

Great post by @lisanandy MP on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/oi7qvMXd (via @leftfootfwd) We've had problems at lobbies #duchenne
http://twitter.com/actionduchenne/status/126605437096312833 Action Duchenne

Great post by @lisanandy MP on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/oi7qvMXd (via @leftfootfwd) We've had problems at lobbies #duchenne
http://twitter.com/marc_bush/status/126606517683232768 Dr Marc Bush

See Lisa Nandy MP's blog on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/wYeurHIZ
http://twitter.com/marc_bush/status/126606517683232768 Dr Marc Bush

See Lisa Nandy MP's blog on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/wYeurHIZ
http://twitter.com/danielvsnhs/status/126608370940641280 Daniel the nerd

Great post by @lisanandy MP on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/oi7qvMXd (via @leftfootfwd) We've had problems at lobbies #duchenne
http://twitter.com/danielvsnhs/status/126608370940641280 Daniel the nerd

Great post by @lisanandy MP on disabled access to parliament http://t.co/oi7qvMXd (via @leftfootfwd) We've had problems at lobbies #duchenne
http://twitter.com/accesstotravel/status/126668582921830400 AccessToTravel

My @leftfootfwd blog on how disabled access to Parl highlights wider issues of disabled access http://t.co/xQL3aBX8
http://twitter.com/myedf/status/126967161272016896 EDF

British MP raises #disability access issue's in #Parliament, which reflect the wider problems.http://bit.ly/n2HxcT #europe
http://twitter.com/christiane/status/126969300484501504 Christiane Link

RT @MyEDF: British MP raises #disability access issue's in #Parliament, which reflect the wider problems. http://t.co/xp8JpFlR #a11y
http://twitter.com/henrylangen/status/126970700538986496 Henry Langen

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access http://t.co/bUqlgKYM
http://twitter.com/carolynanderson/status/126999849546682368 Carolyn Anderson

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access http://t.co/XS7hNDxG
http://twitter.com/susanas4321/status/127287196427354112 Susan Archibald

It has only taken them this long to ask this question http://t.co/NTkptdQz what hope do we have!
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/127341889857921025 Sue Marsh

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlight wider prob of access http://t.co/ofRvewJN @SallyBercow Love Mr B's response
http://twitter.com/ninagleams/status/127342460312621056 Nina

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlight wider prob of access http://t.co/ofRvewJN @SallyBercow Love Mr B's response
http://twitter.com/barbsisi/status/127343817966895107 Barbara Hulme

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlight wider prob of access http://t.co/ofRvewJN @SallyBercow Love Mr B's response
http://twitter.com/tempasfujit/status/127344717531856896 people justice

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlight wider prob of access http://t.co/ofRvewJN @SallyBercow Love Mr B's response
http://twitter.com/dalekkat/status/127350826585956352 Katherine

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlight wider prob of access http://t.co/ofRvewJN @SallyBercow Love Mr B's response
http://twitter.com/annebegg/status/127364195938340864 Dame Anne Begg

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access: http://t.co/2BSyMSiw writes @LisaNandy
http://twitter.com/unitedresponse/status/127364233632559104 United Response

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access: http://t.co/2BSyMSiw writes @LisaNandy
http://twitter.com/kennethwatt/status/127366563773947904 kennethwatt

RT @leftfootfwd: Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access http://t.co/QCYIRMSn
http://twitter.com/concordmobility/status/127425987091767297 Concordmobility

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem of access: http://t.co/2BSyMSiw writes @LisaNandy
http://twitter.com/dhorizons/status/134369836011753472 Disability Horizons

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem, says @lisanandy. She's right… http://t.co/Zijhhq7q
http://twitter.com/brookgrahamltd/status/134370100164820994 Brook Graham

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem, says @lisanandy. She's right… http://t.co/Zijhhq7q
http://twitter.com/pellegrino5/status/134427188756885504 Sue Pellegrino

Lack of disabled access to Parliament highlights wider problem, says @lisanandy. She's right… http://t.co/Zijhhq7q