Overview

This bill amends the Equality Act 2010 to improve disabled access to buildings in England, Wales and Scotland. It mandates the installation of ramps in place of single steps, based on step height, to improve wheelchair accessibility.

Description

The bill modifies Section 20 of the Equality Act 2010, which concerns the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. It introduces two new subsections:

• Six-inch rule: Requires a ramp for any single step under six inches high.
• Twelve-inch rule: Requires a ramp for any single step under twelve inches high. This clause will be repealed after two years.

A further subsection clarifies that these requirements do not apply to buildings with more than one access step.

The bill's provisions will come into force at different times. The six-inch rule and the exclusion for buildings with multiple steps come into effect twelve months after the bill's passage, while the twelve-inch rule will come into force immediately but be repealed after two years.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly allocate specific government funding. The cost of implementing the changes (installing ramps) will fall on building owners and potentially local councils. There are no figures available for the predicted total cost to the government.

Groups Affected

The groups most affected are:

• Wheelchair users and other disabled individuals: Will experience improved access to buildings.
• Building owners: Will bear the cost of installing ramps where required.
• Businesses operating in affected buildings: May incur costs relating to compliance.

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