Education Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 3:00 pm on 22 March 2005.
Angela Watkinson
Shadow Minister (Education)
Paragraph 2(6)(b) concerns access to buildings by special needs pupils. There are funding implications; huge costs are involved. I am a governor of a mixed comprehensive school that has several students who use wheelchairs. Because the school is on two floors, we had to install a lift at great expense, and it was incorporated into the extension that was built when the school obtained special status. There need to be special circumstances if we are to overcome expensive access problems such as installing lifts. Ramps on the ground floor are less expensive and most schools can manage to have those put in. The installation of lifts is a problem for mainstream schools that have students with special needs, particularly those with mobility problems who use wheelchairs or walking aids. For a while, we had to confine our wheelchair users to ground floor lessons. That is not real inclusion. I shall be interested to hear the Minister’s comments on that.
Derek Twigg
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education and Skills) (Schools)
I know that the hon. Lady is very knowledgeable in this area and has done a lot of work involving special schools and handicapped children. The Clause provides for a parent or carer to be served with a penalty notice or prosecuted if his or her child fails regularly to attend—[Interruption.]
Eric Forth
Conservative, Bromley and Chislehurst
May I help the Minister? The hon. Lady was talking about schedule 18, specifically paragraph 2(6)(b)(ii) and (iii).
Derek Twigg
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education and Skills) (Schools)
I apologise. The best answer that I can give is to say that, when schools are built in future, we shall consider disabled access. If the hon. Lady does not mind, I shall write to her in more detail while we take the matter forward.
Angela Watkinsonindicated assent.
Derek Twigg
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education and Skills) (Schools)
I thank the hon. Lady.
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