POLLS APART 2

Early day motion 266, tabled 17 July 1997 by Peter Bottomley (Conservative). Signed by 40 members.

That this House welcomes Scope's report, Polls Apart 2 - Disabled People and the 1997 General Election, which shows that 94 per cent. of polling stations surveyed on 1st May were inaccessible to disabled people voting independently, and that some disabled people were either unable to vote or were injured trying to get into their polling stations, the majority of which were located in public buildings; recognises that the majority of disabled people interviewed by Scope wanted to vote in person on election day and rejected postal votes as a suitable alternative; and calls on the Government to review the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and Home Office guidance to returning officers with a view to removing the barriers that currently prevent disabled people from exercising their right to vote.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 9, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, UUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Unknown 1.