Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Fourth Report - Accessibility of products and services to disabled people
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 605
Published 19 March 2024
Recommendations
3
Accepted
Para 17
Task Disability and Access Ambassadors to engage businesses on inclusive design best practice
Recommendation
The Government should task the Disability and Access Ambassadors with engaging with businesses on inclusive design, to seek out and share best practice and to identify the barriers to making products and services in their sectors accessible to disabled people. …
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Government Response Summary
The government explains that Disability Access Ambassadors (DAAs) are senior business leaders who already identify accessibility barriers and encourage improvements in their sectors. It details how DAAs meet regularly with ministers and work with other government departments, providing various examples of their existing initiatives, reports, and guides.
Government Equalities Office
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4
Accepted
Para 18
Establish Extra Costs Taskforce by summer 2024 to understand disabled people's daily expenses
Recommendation
Disabled people face additional costs in their daily lives. These costs are exacerbated by restrictions on their choice as consumers. We support the Government’s commitment in the National Disability Strategy to establish an Extra Costs Taskforce to better understand the …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and states it will set up the Extra Costs Taskforce. The Disability Unit will bring together disabled people, regulators, and businesses to examine the additional costs faced by disabled individuals.
Government Equalities Office
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6
Rejected
Regulate essential private sector websites and applications to public sector accessibility standards
Recommendation
Given that disabled people increasingly need access to online services, information, and social networks, it is imperative that the Government acts on what it has described as the “persistently poor accessibility of private sector websites” without further delay. As a …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects immediate legislative action to make private sector websites accessible, stating there is no time left in this Parliament to change the law. It notes that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has established a cross-government group to examine online exclusion and is checking government websites.
Government Equalities Office
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8
Accepted
Para 34
Mandate banks to adopt inclusive design for cards and ATMs, ensuring full accessibility
Recommendation
The Financial Conduct Authority should work with the retail banking sector and organisations such as the RNIB to ensure all banks embrace inclusive design from the outset when innovating or phasing out existing services. We recommend that all banks: • …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that banking services must be accessible and highlights existing legal requirements for reasonable adjustments. It details ongoing work by the financial services industry with RNIB, including features like dot/notch on cards and talking ATMs, but does not commit to the specific new actions recommended for inclusive design or card roll-out.
Government Equalities Office
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9
Deferred
Review food packaging guidance to ensure minimum accessibility for essential information
Recommendation
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should review its food packaging guidance in light of new technological approaches being developed and ensure a minimum accessibility requirement on food packaging’s essential nutrition, health and pricing information. (Paragraph 37) Accessibility …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the challenge of small food labels for visually impaired people and states it is writing a guide with the Codex Alimentarius Commission on using technology for food information. It indicates further consideration is needed on the impact of new labelling methods and expresses interest in ongoing shop trials, without committing to immediately reviewing guidance or ensuring minimum accessibility requirements.
Government Equalities Office
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Conclusions (4)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 15
The Disability Action Plan calls on the Disability Unit to publish research into the accessibility of private sector products and services in spring 2024 and to improve its understanding of the barriers disabled consumers face. It is right that policy options should be evidence-based However, despite the hold ups owing …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's point by stating it is still working on and will share its research on the accessibility of private sector products and services, as part of the Disability Action Plan published in February 2024.
2
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 16
Not all businesses are considering the needs of disabled consumers when bringing products and services to the market. Where accessibility is considered, it is often done so retrospectively, as something to be bolted on to an existing design. Products and services should be inclusive by default. By not embracing inclusive …
Government Response Summary
The government responds by detailing the existing Disability Access Ambassadors (DAA) programme, outlining how senior business leaders identify and encourage improvements in accessibility and quality of products and services in their sectors. It provides numerous examples of DAA initiatives, reports, and guides already in progress.
5
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 27
Disabled people should not have to look for alternatives or settle for less when using online shopping and services. Despite the untapped potential of the purple pound, market forces have failed to drive the urgent improvements that are necessary.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of online accessibility but states there is no time left in this Parliament to change the law to mandate accessibility. It notes a cross-government group is examining online exclusion and that government websites are being checked for accessibility.
7
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 34
Several banks and financial providers have innovated to make their services accessible to blind and partially sighted customers, such as issuing debit and credit cards with tactile indicators. However, this is not standard practice across the banking sector as providers continue to phase out embossed cards. We are also concerned …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for accessible banking services, referring to existing legal requirements for banks to make reasonable adjustments. It details ongoing industry efforts and collaborations, such as tactile payment cards, talking ATMs, and guides for electronic point-of-sale devices, indicating these measures are already in place.