Committee publication · Special Report · 19 March 2026 · HC 1726
1st Special Report – Access to the House of Commons and its procedures: House Administration Response
From: Modernisation Committee
Summary
This is the House of Commons Administration's formal response to the Modernisation Committee's December 2025 report on access to Parliament. The Administration accepts most recommendations on accessibility, committing to establish an external accessibility advisory group, enhance staff training, improve digital communication for disabled visitors, and embed accessibility as a strategic priority alongside security and safety, with quarterly reporting to the Commons Executive Board.
Key findings
- House Administration acknowledges accessibility as a strategic priority and commits to establish an External Accessibility Advisory Group by end of 2026, drawing on experience from other parliaments and TfL's Independent Disability Advisory Group.
- 330 short-term, 662 medium-term, and 305 long-term accessibility audit actions identified; 126, 82, and 13 respectively have been closed to date, with quarterly progress reporting to Commons Executive Board.
- Immediate improvements completed include accessible toilet upgrades by Chamber (February 2026), high-visibility markings on Portcullis House steps (February 2026), and accessible door handles rollout across Portcullis House bathrooms (April 2026).
- R&R programme will increase step-free access from current 12% to at least 60% of Palace floor area, with up to 90% in high-use areas; comprehensive restoration of Chambers and committee rooms will improve accessibility, environmental conditions, and acoustics.
- Administration agrees that security, safety, and accessibility are complementary priorities; will implement text-messaging option for non-emergency security reporting by summer recess; commits to mandatory disability training for all customer-facing staff by summer recess and neurodiversity training for managers by March 2026.
Government position
The House of Commons Administration accepts the Committee's recommendations in full or substantially. It commits to establishing an external accessibility group, implementing transparent progress reporting on accessibility audits, mandating staff training, advertising entrance closures in real-time, digitising deferred divisions, co-designing resources with disabled people, and making accessibility a core strategic value alongside security and safety. The Administration acknowledges that accessibility improvements are costly but essential to ensure democratic participation. It frames accessibility and security as complementary, not competing priorities, and positions itself as leading by example in the public sector.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Modernisation Committee, House of Commons Administration, House Commons Executive Board, Estates Accessibility Board, Members' Accessibility Group, Marianne Cwynarski (Director General), Speaker of the House of Commons, Serjeant at Arms
Notable line
“Accessibility must be woven into the fabric of what we do and be mandatory in the design of new services and spaces.”
Key Quotes
“It is not acceptable that some MPs, staff and visitors are turned away from engaging with parts of Parliamentary life due to the inaccessible nature of the House of Commons.”
“An MP's ability to scrutinise legislation and carry out their duties on behalf of their constituents must not be limited due to the inaccessibility or inflexibility of the rules and conventions which govern their work in the Chamber and committees.”
“Accessibility is one of the issues the Corporate Officers have to have regard to under the the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act”
“The end-state of the Palace of Westminster after the R&R Programme will therefore be significantly more accessible under all options for visitors and users.”
“In 2025, the Commons Executive Board added accessibility to its priority areas, alongside safety and security.”
“Our core aim of providing excellent services to Members will only be fulfilled if we improve accessibility for all.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗