Disability Employment Gap Covid-19 2021-06-28
2021-06-28
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about the widening disability employment gap due to the pandemic. The MP highlights a need for assessment.
What assessment has been made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the disability employment gap?
The disability employment gap has narrowed by 0.3 percentage points in the year to March 2021 and now stands at 28.6 percentage points. The Government remain committed to seeing 1 million more disabled people in work by 2027, despite the challenges of covid.
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Assessment & feedback
The narrowing gap is noted but does not address potential widening due to the pandemic directly.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Following a workshop, many MPs have signed up as Disability Confident employers to promote inclusivity. The MP seeks encouragement for those who have not yet committed.
MPs must ensure inclusion in employment for people with disabilities; the employment gap will increase due to covid-19. I thank the Department and Minister for recent assistance; a quarter of MPs are now Disability Confident employers following an all-party parliamentary group workshop. Could the Minister encourage remaining MPs to sign up, reaching our next target of one-third being Disability Confident?
The hon. Member has been an absolute superstar in her role as chair, organising a brilliant event to incentivise and cajole MPs to lead by example by signing up to be Disability Confident employers. She is right to keep pushing because collectively we can make a difference.
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Assessment & feedback
Praises efforts but does not explicitly encourage remaining MPs to sign up as asked.
Response accuracy