DISABILITY RIGHTS MUST NOT BE LOST IN NEW COMMISSION

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 27th Sep 2006

Introducing the Disability Rights Commission events at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference last week, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said:

"The Disability Rights Commission has done excellent work and I applaud their achievements. By next October the Disability Rights Commission will have become a part of the new Equalities and Human Rights Commission. It is essential that the concerns of the disabled are not lost in this larger organisation. Disability Rights must not be swamped by issues affecting the other members of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. All the major political parties now talk about Disability Rights. However the test of commitment to Disability Rights issues is a commitment to funding independent living, the choice between mainstream and special schooling, and access to transport. It is no good to talk about Disability Rights without putting up the money to make a real difference."