Charity slams government for lack of DDA help for pubs

Cerebral palsy charity Scope has slammed the government for not doing enough to help licensees comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

The act, passed in 1995, has introduced a series of requirements over the last eight years in order to lessen disability discrimination.

The last of these, which comes into force in October, puts the onus on service providers, including publicans, to make "reasonable adjustments" to their premises to cater for disabled people. These may include improving toilet facilities for wheelchair users and larger print menus for the visually impaired.

Andrew Crooks, a campaigns officer for Scope, argued that the government needs to do more to help pubs. He said: "We would urge the government to create greater awareness and spend more on advertising in order that small businesses get to know what they have to do.

"We are told the government is spending £4m plus on TV advertising, but we have to question whether this is enough."

In November, disability minister Maria Eagle said that publicans had no excuse for not complying with the act in time for October 1, 2004.

In response Mr Crooks said: "I don't think the government is entitled to say pubs have no excuse for non-compliance. The government says the right things but what is it actually doing to raise awareness among small businesses?

"Organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses are membership organisations and as such only members may get to hear what the government is advising."

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, said: "The difficulty for licensees is being aware of the number of disabilities that exist. Someone was recently fined £8,000 for not serving a group of people with learning difficulties. So the message needs to be spread to publicans, perhaps even by disabled people as well."

Last August's Publican Market Report showed 48 per cent of licensees had failed to do anything to comply with the act.

Scope to launch deadline campaign​

Scope is to launch a campaign to help licensees get ready for the October 1 deadline for the Disability Discrimination Act. The campaign, which will launch in May, will be called Free 2 Pee. With a name like that, it is no surprise to learn that its focus will be on toilets in pubs and other leisure outlets.

Mr Crooks explained: "There is a real shortage of accessible toilet facilities for disabled people when they go out. We want to make it a fun campaign and so decided to use some traditional British toilet humour."

If you want to get involved in Free 2 Pee get in touch with Andrew Crooks, campaigns officer, Scope, 6 Market Road, London, N7 9PW. Tel 020 7619 7254/45 or email andrew.crooks@scope.org.uk.