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People with Learning Disabilities: Employment
04 December 2023
Lead MP
Lee Anderson
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
EmploymentForeign AffairsWomen & Equalities
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Lee Anderson raised concerns about people with learning disabilities: employment in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The MP highlighted the historical context of disabled people in employment, noting that over 90% had jobs post-World War II but today only about 60-65% do. He focused on individuals with learning difficulties and used Jossie's story to illustrate the challenges faced during transitions from education to work. He emphasised the need for individual assessment of abilities and opportunities, urging more support for such transitions. The MP also discussed barriers like worries over benefits and lack of application form accessibility. He praised local initiatives like Rumbles café in Ashfield which trains young people with learning disabilities but expressed concern about its potential closure due to increased rent demands by the local council.
Tom Pursglove
Con
Corby
Agreed that more should be done to support disabled individuals into employment.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledged the importance of supporting learning-disabled people in securing and sustaining jobs, stating that the Government's goal was met by increasing disability employment by 1.6 million since 2017. He outlined various initiatives such as additional work coach support, strengthened disability employment adviser roles, specific programmes for learning-disabled individuals like local supported employment (LSE), and new universal support schemes aimed at helping inactive disabled people into sustained work. Funding was confirmed for LSE and other programmes including Access to Work adjustments planner and employer offer support to facilitate job adjustments. The Minister praised Rumbles café in Ashfield and suggested a more holistic approach to supporting such initiatives as they improve life chances and minimise costs elsewhere.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.