That this House welcomes the launch of the Disability Matters programme, an innovative new programme aiming to tackle the inequalities that disabled children and young people face in their daily lives by providing free, practical online resources for those who work or engage with disabled children, young people and their families; calls on UK employers to support their workforce to be disability aware in light of a recent survey by the Disability Matters programme, which found that a quarter of British adults were not confident communicating with disabled children; notes that survey also found that 86 per cent of British adults say, if they had a disabled child, they would worry they would find it harder to get a job; and further notes that the Disability Matters programme will help everyone to reflect on their own attitudes and to improve their communication and problem-solving skills around the challenges and barriers that disabled people and their families face in their lives.

That this House welcomes the launch of the Disability Matters programme, an innovative new programme aiming to tackle the inequalities that disabled children and young people face in their daily lives by providing free, practical online resources for those who work or engage with disabled children, young people and their...

That this House gives its full support to Disabled Access Day on 17th January 2015, a fantastic initiative aiming to encourage the 11.6 million disabled people in the UK to visit somewhere new with their friends and families; praises Euan's Guide and all the organisers for the hard work that they have put into recruiting organisations and ensuring that the day will be a success, and for their continuous efforts to make information on disabled-accessible locations readily available; commends the over 200 companies and venues across the UK that have pledged their support for the initiative, including Buckingham Palace; recognises the importance of empowering disabled people so that they have the confidence to get out of their comfort zone and visit new places; and encourages more venues and facilities to consider how they could make their sites more accessible for disabled people.

That this House gives its full support to Disabled Access Day on 17th January 2015, a fantastic initiative aiming to encourage the 11.6 million disabled people in the UK to visit somewhere new with their friends and families; praises Euan's Guide and all the organisers for the hard work that...

That this House notes the important campaign led by People First Keighley and Craven, and Turning Point, to stop drivers of wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles from charging extra to carry wheelchair users; and urges the Government to bring into force section 165 of the Equality Act 2010, which states that private hire firms which have vehicles that have been designated as accessible by a local authority must carry passengers in wheelchairs without making an additional charge.

That this House notes the important campaign led by People First Keighley and Craven, and Turning Point, to stop drivers of wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles from charging extra to carry wheelchair users; and urges the Government to bring into force section 165 of the Equality Act 2010, which states that...

That this House welcomes the British Sign Language (Scotland) Bill which was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 29 October 2014; recognises that the Bill promotes the use of British Sign Language (BSL) by requiring Scottish Ministers and relevant public authorities to prepare and publish BSL plans; further recognises that BSL is the preferred language of between 50,000 and 70,000 people within the UK and since 2003 has been recognised by the Government as an official minority language; and calls on the Government to bring forward similar proposals to raise awareness and promote BSL across the UK.

That this House welcomes the British Sign Language (Scotland) Bill which was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 29 October 2014; recognises that the Bill promotes the use of British Sign Language (BSL) by requiring Scottish Ministers and relevant public authorities to prepare and publish BSL plans; further recognises that...

That this House notes that in recent years the availability of electrically-powered wheelchairs has become greater; further notes that the sensitivity of such vehicles to irregularities in pavement surfaces is greater than those with a human being pushing them; further notes that this frequently gives rise to situations in which the wheelchair user involuntarily leaves the wheelchair, including the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley, potentially causing material harm to the user; and calls on the Government and local authorities to review standards in respect of pavement surfaces and the slope of footway crossings to reduce the hazard that arises from such difficulties.

That this House notes that in recent years the availability of electrically-powered wheelchairs has become greater; further notes that the sensitivity of such vehicles to irregularities in pavement surfaces is greater than those with a human being pushing them; further notes that this frequently gives rise to situations in which...

That this House believes that medical assessments for the Work Capability Assessment, the contract which Atos recently relinquished, should be brought back in-house; recalls that the failure of this contract, which was ended with keen agreement by Atos and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), follows a long history of criticism of the process and the company by politicians, press, public and DWP for their delivery of the healthcare contract, in particular the Work Capability Assessments; further believes that the current situation, with the contract yet to be granted, provides the opportunity for the Government to take responsibility and full control of the process by bringing the work and staff back in-house so that it can be delivered by the DWP; welcomes the benefits that in-house delivery would bring including the Department having direct control over processes and staffing and staff being able to work closely and interchangeably between core DWP work and those currently delivering the Atos contract, while recognising that this would go a long way to repairing the reputation of DWP medical assessment work; is concerned that awarding the contract to another private sector supplier could lead to a repeat of past mistakes, particularly as public spending cuts result in companies delivering contacts by making cuts to maintain profit margins; and urges the Government to stop the expensive bidding process now, bring the work and staff in-house, and take responsibility and control for improving the process for everyone concerned.

That this House believes that medical assessments for the Work Capability Assessment, the contract which Atos recently relinquished, should be brought back in-house; recalls that the failure of this contract, which was ended with keen agreement by Atos and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), follows a long history...

That this House supports the campaign mounted by the UK charity, Changing Faces, called Don't call me Freakface; deplores the use of common disfigurements such as scars, spots and missing eyes as lazy characterisations of baddies because they stigmatise children and young people with disfigurements and put them at risk of bullying and abuse; and calls on the company Mind Candy, creators of the online game, Moshi Monsters, to immediately change the names of the Glump characters called Freakface, Fish Lips and Bruiser and to remove all descriptions of characters which place value judgements on their disfigurements as an insulting and inappropriate way to suggest just how evil and scary they are.

That this House supports the campaign mounted by the UK charity, Changing Faces, called Don't call me Freakface; deplores the use of common disfigurements such as scars, spots and missing eyes as lazy characterisations of baddies because they stigmatise children and young people with disfigurements and put them at risk...

That this House congratulates and supports the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Guide Dogs for the Blind Association on their work to raise awareness and educate service providers on providing equal access for guide and hearing dog owners; recognises that despite amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People have found that 80 per cent of hearing dog recipients have been refused access on one or more occasions; further recognises that hearing and guide dog owners are more reliant on public and private transport and so this affects confidence and independence; notes that guide and hearing dogs users are left financially responsible for prosecution of those who breach the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and urges the Government to review current legislation and access to legal services at the earliest possible opportunity.

That this House congratulates and supports the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Guide Dogs for the Blind Association on their work to raise awareness and educate service providers on providing equal access for guide and hearing dog owners; recognises that despite amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the...

That this House notes that the three largest online streaming companies, Netflix, LoveFilm and Sky, do not offer audio description as part of their services; further notes that audio description is essential to enable blind people to use these services and that, without it, these services are effectively denied to blind people; calls on these online streaming companies to introduce audio description as soon as possible; and further calls on the Government to use its influence to ensure that audio description is introduced by Netflix, LoveFilm and Sky.

That this House notes that the three largest online streaming companies, Netflix, LoveFilm and Sky, do not offer audio description as part of their services; further notes that audio description is essential to enable blind people to use these services and that, without it, these services are effectively denied to...

That this House warmly welcomes the launch of the UK Disabled People's Manifesto, Reclaiming our Futures, developed by disabled people and their organisations across the UK, which sets out the shared vision of disabled people for an inclusive and equal society free from economic, social and cultural barriers; and urges all political parties represented in this House to engage in a constructive dialogue with the disabled people's organisations promoting the manifesto with the aim of achieving its objectives.

That this House warmly welcomes the launch of the UK Disabled People's Manifesto, Reclaiming our Futures, developed by disabled people and their organisations across the UK, which sets out the shared vision of disabled people for an inclusive and equal society free from economic, social and cultural barriers; and urges...

That this House recognises and congratulates Nathan Popple for his accomplishment on being named Whizz-Kidz Campaigner of the Year 2013; acknowledges Whizz-Kidz Ambassador Nathan's successful Accessible Leeds campaign, running an innovative website that serves as a resource to wheelchair users in Leeds and highlights the accessibility or inaccessibility of businesses, services and facilities in the Leeds area; expresses its commitment to promote the issue of accessibility for people with disabilities across the country; commends Whizz-Kidz and the Whizz-Kidz ambassadors; and further supports the Whizz-Kidz Generation Inspired? initiative.

That this House recognises and congratulates Nathan Popple for his accomplishment on being named Whizz-Kidz Campaigner of the Year 2013; acknowledges Whizz-Kidz Ambassador Nathan's successful Accessible Leeds campaign, running an innovative website that serves as a resource to wheelchair users in Leeds and highlights the accessibility or inaccessibility of businesses,...

That this House congratulates Kevin Healey, an Ambassador for the National Autistic Society, who has been helping to raise awareness of hate crime, including cyber-bullying, trolling, stalking and physical bullying, against those suffering with autism through a highly successful Twitter campaign and a Global Anti-Bullying Autism Campaign; notes that the campaign has received the backing of celebrities such as Ricky Gervais, Katie Price and Melanie Sykes; further notes concern at the findings of a National Autistic Society survey that revealed 81 per cent of respondents having experience of verbal abuse, while 47 per cent reported that they have been victims of a physical assault, and that 24 per cent had been victims of cyber-bullying; and finally, calls on the Government to review urgently legislation and police recording of disability hate crime in order that victims can be confident that their suffering will be taken seriously and ended.

That this House congratulates Kevin Healey, an Ambassador for the National Autistic Society, who has been helping to raise awareness of hate crime, including cyber-bullying, trolling, stalking and physical bullying, against those suffering with autism through a highly successful Twitter campaign and a Global Anti-Bullying Autism Campaign; notes that the...

That this House joins the British Deaf Association, the Royal Association for Deaf People and Signature in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Government's official recognition of British Sign Language (BSL) on 18 March 2003; notes that BSL is used by many thousands of deaf people as their first or preferred language alongside English; further notes that BSL users still find it hard to access health, education and other services as well as employment due to a lack of public awareness and interpreters; further notes that some good work is being done by different Government departments to support BSL users but that this is piecemeal and not co-ordinated; urges the Government to renew its efforts in this direction in 2013; and calls on the Government to prepare a short, cross-departmental report which pulls together all that it is currently doing to support BSL users and to identify the barriers that still remain to BSL users' full participation in, and contribution to, British society.

That this House joins the British Deaf Association, the Royal Association for Deaf People and Signature in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Government's official recognition of British Sign Language (BSL) on 18 March 2003; notes that BSL is used by many thousands of deaf people as their first or...

That this House notes that Daniel Roque Hall is a 30-year-old severely disabled man with Friedreich's Ataxia, a multi-system and fatal illness, now so advanced that he cannot use his arms or legs, has blurred vision, damaged speech, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and Type 1 diabetes; further notes that he was imprisoned for attempting to bring cocaine into this country, but recognises that, given the seriousness of his condition and the complexity of his care needs, prison is not suitable for him, bearing in mind that seven weeks through his three-year sentence he was taken to hospital where he remains two months later after spending overa week in intensive care; further notes that his mother, his GP, the former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Lord Ramsbotham, disability and other organisations, including Ataxia UK, Liberty and WinVisible and over 1,400 people who signed a petition, have warned that a return to prison would amount to a death sentence for him; welcomes the decision of the Secretary of State for the Home Department to stop the extradition of Gary McKinnon because it would subject him to inhuman and degrading treatment and endanger his life; and calls on the Secretary of State to show the same compassion to Daniel Roque Hall by allowing him to serve the rest of his sentence at home, where he can receive the appropriate care and medical support and be supervised by probation services.

That this House notes that Daniel Roque Hall is a 30-year-old severely disabled man with Friedreich's Ataxia, a multi-system and fatal illness, now so advanced that he cannot use his arms or legs, has blurred vision, damaged speech, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and Type 1 diabetes; further notes that he...

That this House notes that Wayne Clinton, constituent of the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale, is the founder of Morecambe-based Disability Online; further notes that Wayne has been shortlisted as a nominee for the prestigious National Diversity Awards; and wishes Wayne the best of luck for the award ceremony in Manchester on 21 September 2012 in recognition of his hard work.

That this House notes that Wayne Clinton, constituent of the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale, is the founder of Morecambe-based Disability Online; further notes that Wayne has been shortlisted as a nominee for the prestigious National Diversity Awards; and wishes Wayne the best of luck for the award ceremony...

That this House recognises the campaign of 14 year-old Leeds resident Nathan Popple, through his website accessibleleeds, to change local authority policies regarding access provision for wheelchair users; considers it perfectly reasonable that wheelchair users at public events should be permitted to enjoy these with their families and friends rather than having to be separated and tobe permitted to be with only one carer; concurs that wherever possible, authorities should seek to accommodate this so that wheelchair users can enjoy events, as non-wheelchair users do, in the company of family and friends; further concurs that local authorities should, wherever possible, consider family and friends of those with disabilities when planning the size of accessible viewing platforms for public events in consideration of the fact that those with disabilities have as much a right to enjoy a social life with family and friends as non-disabled people do; and urges local authorities to work with campaigners such as Nathan to continue to improve access for wheelchair users and their families.

That this House recognises the campaign of 14 year-old Leeds resident Nathan Popple, through his website accessibleleeds, to change local authority policies regarding access provision for wheelchair users; considers it perfectly reasonable that wheelchair users at public events should be permitted to enjoy these with their families and friends rather...

That this House is deeply concerned at press reports that the Government is preparing to authorise cuts at 86 out of 90 London Midland railway ticket offices including the complete closure of ticket offices; is appalled that London Midland stands to profit 1.25 million a year while services to passengers suffer and rail workers lose their jobs; condemns this cash for closures which will threaten passenger safety and security at stations and will discriminate against people with disabilities; is further concerned that the closures will result in passengers paying more expensive fares as there will be no staff available to advise on the most appropriate ticket options; shares the view of rail experts that the closures will also be a false economy with fare revenues being lost through ticketless travel; notes that some 18,000 people, including passenger and disability groups and the local transport authority, have objected to the closure; and calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to use her powers to support London Midland passengers and rail workers and oppose these cuts.

That this House is deeply concerned at press reports that the Government is preparing to authorise cuts at 86 out of 90 London Midland railway ticket offices including the complete closure of ticket offices; is appalled that London Midland stands to profit 1.25 million a year while services to passengers...

That this House recognises that the majority of young disabled people and those with special educational needs already benefit from increasingly good practice in inclusive mainstream schools, that research from all the major professional, disability and parent-led organisations shows that there is no bias towards inclusion within the education systemfor disabled children and that, despite the rhetoric of choice for families, many find their aspirations for an inclusive mainstream school placement are denied by the inconsistencies of local provision; and therefore calls on the Government to refrain from bringing forward any changes to primary legislation which would make it even harder for families to exercise choice and instead to ensure that all schools implement the current legislation under the Equalities Act 2010 which requires them to make reasonable adjustments and develop policies which do not discriminate against young disabled people.

That this House recognises that the majority of young disabled people and those with special educational needs already benefit from increasingly good practice in inclusive mainstream schools, that research from all the major professional, disability and parent-led organisations shows that there is no bias towards inclusion within the education systemfor...