Election Question from NADS

We asked the 3 key parliamentary candidates hoping to become Minister of Sport for the new Government the following question on behalf of our members and stakeholders:

"Facilities and services are still inadequate for disabled supporters at many football stadia across the UK against a backdrop of key recommendations and guidance from the Football Task Force in 1989, Taylor in 1990, the DDA legislation in 1995 with DDA Part 3 additions and the publication of the Accessible Stadia Guide in 2004/05. The All Party Parliamentary Football Group made a number of significant recommendations for improvements for disabled fans in its recent report on English Football and its Governance. With all of this in mind, how will your party support these important issues and ensure that football (and other sports) finally become equally accessible to all fans?"

Conservatives Reply from Hugh Robertson

The Conservative Party is totally committed to ensuring that disabled supporters have full access to all football grounds. If elected to government on 6 May, we will work with the football authorities to ensure that all football facilities and services are equally accessible to disabled and able bodied supporters alike.

Liberal Democrats Reply from Don Foster

It is an absolute disgrace that so many clubs are not providing the recommended number of spaces for disabled supporters. Research carried out by the Liberal Democrats over a year ago revealed that just 2 Premiership clubs were meeting government guidelines for the provision of disabled spaces in stadiums and the situation hasn’t improved much since then. Every club must take its responsibilities towards its fans more seriously. As part of governance reform supporters should be given more of a voice – both at club level and as part of a reformed FA – to ensure that clubs cannot so easily get away with treating fans badly. If the situation doesn’t improve, we would be prepared to consider new powers to make it a requirement for grounds to meet recommended levels of provision within an agreed timescale.

Still awaiting Labour’s response.

Ahead of Thursday's vote there is also a lot of information on the Polls Apart website www.pollsapart.org.uk including a factsheet on disabled peoples voting rights, which disabled voters can print off and take with them if they have any concerns.

NADS Announces Nominations for Trustees