A01 passed (C:18, NC:4, P:6) and thus has been applied to the bill

A02 failed (C:10, NC:15, P:3)

Disability Rights Bill

A

BILL

TO

Improve access for disabled people and bring their rights in line with others.

"BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—”

Section 1 - Amendment to Drug Reform Act

1. The DRA 2015 is amended as follows.
2. In subsection 4(b) of section 11, insert new clause to read:

”i) This regulation does not apply to braille markings or any other markings that have the purpose of enabling the visually imparied.

Section 2 - Amendment to Domestic Abuse Act 2021

1. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 is amended as follows.
2. In the definition of “personally connected”, in subsection 1.3, insert:

g) One is a carer for the other.

Section 3 - British Sign Language Interpreters for Deaf Jurors

1. A judge may allow a British Sign language interpreter to enter the jury room if it will enable a deaf juror to fulfill their service.
2. It is an offence for an interpreter to influence jury proceedings.

Section 4 - Extent, Commencement and Short Title

(1) This Act extends to England

(2) This act shall come into force immediately at Royal Assent.

(3) This Act may be cited as Disability Rights Act 2021.

This Bill was written by The Right Honourable Sir Chi0121 KT KD KBE LVO CT, Leader of the Opposition on behalf of the Conservative and Unionist Party, based off of a bill by the Rt. Hon Siru/BrexitGlory. It is sponsored by the Progressive Workers Party.

This bill amends:

Abortion Act 1967

The Drug Reform Act 2015

The Domestic Abuse Act 2020

Opening Speech

I am very proud to be bringing this bill to parliament, something that BG had been working on for over a year despite its short length. He and I are of the belief that people with disabilities are some of the most restricted and abused. This bill will not fix it, this bill will merely be another stone in the long road ahead. Every party boasts about being in favour of equality in their manifesto, we even have a Secretary of State for Equality, let’s see if they are all-talk or are the real deal.

Our previous proposals for Braille packaging for drugs were rejected by the last parliament by the current governing parties. We have little to say on this as BG has already spoken extensively on it’s importance. We merely hope that this time we can aim to be more inclusive with our legislation.

We also seek to make an amendment to the recently passed Domestic Abuse Act 2020, to include carers of disabled people as a definition of “personally connected”. We believe this is a not insignificant gap in the DAA 2020. It is true carer abuse is covered in other legislation, but the specific offence of coercive behaviour does not exist for that, and carers are also not always paid professionals. Often abusive carers can be neighbours or friends who worm their way into the disabled person’s life and are not so easy to get rid of. The relationship between a carer and a disabled person can be complex to say the least. Carers are privy to some of the most private and vulnerable moments in a disabled person’s everyday life which in some cases gives them an immense amount of emotional power over the disabled person. The DAA 2020 is already written and passed, we can use it perfectly to help tackle this specific issue and we hope members back me in that.

As a party of justice, it’s a pleasure to legislate for interpreters to be allowed into the jury room for deaf jurors. Civic duty is for everyone, not just those who are easiest to accommodate.

Parliamentarians are often nervous when reforms are proposed to abortion practices, so let us nip this one in the bud right away. There will be no change in how mothers can get an abortion before 24 weeks gestation. The 1967 Act and the Pregnancy Termination Act 2015 allow a mother to get an abortion before 24 weeks for any reason. This proposed bill does not change that at all.

However the 1967 Act also allows mothers to get an abortion after 24 weeks under the condition that their child “would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.”

Back in 1967, this was more fit for purpose. Seriously handicapped children unfortunately did not last long in life. Much progress has been made with modern medical practices. For example there is one condition where enormous progress has been made, Down Syndrome. In 1966, a year before the original abortion act, the life expectancy for a Down Syndrome child was around 12 years of age (Penrose & Smith, 1966). Now in the modern age the average lifespan is 60 years old, with some living into their late seventies and enjoying retirement like the rest of us.

It is just not the amount of time we are now able to be blessed by these lives, but also the quality of life for these disabled children. Our valued institutions of hospitals, schools and countless community projects all now cater to the needs of Down Syndrome children far more, enough to give real quality of life.

Mr Deputy Speaker, changing attitudes in society have also had an effect, we no longer shun the disabled, we no longer heckle them as freaks and we no longer think of them as “deformed life”. A modern society should be inclusive for all, who are we to deem that these lives should be cut short for the sole reason that they have Down Syndrome, a condition that modern Britain is now fully able to handle.

Our legislation will amend the act to make late-term abortions medicine-led, not bigotry-led. Super late-term abortions will only be permitted in circumtances where the child has life threatening abnormalities that are likely to result in death before, during or shortly after birth. This means the legislation will adapt to modern medicine and its advances, rather than staying anchored to almost centuries old bigotry and misunderstanding.

This bill will affect a very small number of abortions, but can we really deny the life of those with minor disabilities where we wouldn’t deny it otherwise, despite being perfectly able to treat the condition with modern practices? We urge all to vote this simple reform through, not just to preserve life, but to also send a message to families and people with disabilities that this parliament fully recognises them as people.

Our final reform is to mandate that abortion doctors and nurses must inform the mother of a disabled child who is getting an abortion of what help is available, including charity, government, health and financial aid. A lot of times vulnerable people do not realise how much help there is to hand. Many people also do not realise how easy it is to deal with some disabilities. For example, cleft lift is a permissible reason for an abortion, but it is so so easy to deal with. It’s a quick risk-free surgery and some breast feeding techniques and the baby will be healthy. The United Kingdom contributes to global anti-discrimination campaigns in the third world, to fight discrimination against children with cleft lip. We must tidy our own backyard first and foremost.

We know some members will be tempted to treat this bill with contempt. Perhaps we (BG) have not convinced them, and if not we very much recommend they research the admirable young activist Heidi Crowter, who lives with Down Syndrome and believes the current law is “down right discrimination”. Thank you.

Lords may Vote Content, Not Content, or Present

Vote ends on the 15th December at 10pm GMT