Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with theme parks about ensuring that (1) rides are accessible for disabled children, and (2) all reasonable adjustments are made to enable such children to participate; and what steps they intend to take in response.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access so that disabled customers of all ages are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty, meaning that there is an expectation for businesses providing services, including theme parks, to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require.
Anyone who believes that they or their children have been discriminated against in the provision of services may wish to contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) which can provide them with free bespoke advice and in-depth support. The EASS can be contacted via its website - http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/, by telephone on 0808 800 0082, or by text phone on 0808 800 0084. The EASS may contact a service provider on a customer’s behalf to discuss the scope for meeting the customer’s concern; it also liaises with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has powers to enforce the provisions of the Act.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why VAT is payable on the provision of palantypists for deaf people and people with hearing loss in full time employment.
Answered by Lord Bates
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the standard rate of twenty percent applies to most goods and services, including the supply of sign language interpreters and palantypists by VAT-registered suppliers. Exceptions to the standard rate are strictly limited under domestic and international law. However, VAT-registered employers are able to deduct VAT incurred on such services to the extent that they relate to VAT-able supplies.Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why VAT is payable on the provision of British Sign Language interpreters for deaf people and people with hearing loss in full-time employment.
Answered by Lord Bates
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the standard rate of twenty percent applies to most goods and services, including the supply of sign language interpreters and palantypists by VAT-registered suppliers. Exceptions to the standard rate are strictly limited under domestic and international law. However, VAT-registered employers are able to deduct VAT incurred on such services to the extent that they relate to VAT-able supplies.