Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Disabled People in the Workplace

Wednesday 26 May 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Marion Fellows inquired about steps to support disabled people in the workplace during the covid-19 outbreak.
  • The Minister highlighted an increase of 2,500 more Disability Confident employers over the past year.
  • Access to Work has been adapted to provide greater support to disabled workers during the pandemic.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from concerns over the impact of the pandemic on disabled workers, particularly regarding employer support and reasonable adjustments.

Question

What steps she is taking to support disabled people in the workplace during the covid-19 outbreak. According to statistics, 11% of employers furloughed a disabled employee at the beginning of the pandemic after failing to provide reasonable adjustments. Disabled workers have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and continue to face challenges due to lack of access to reasonable adjustments.

Answer from Guy Opperman

Over the past year, there have been 2,500 more Disability Confident employers, a much more flexible system and greater extended support through Access to Work going forward. There are greater numbers of Disability Confident employers and Access to Work has been adapted during covid to help the disabled, with greater online assistance, extended timeframes, flexibility, mental health support and much, much more.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Introducing mandatory timescales for employer-implementation of reasonable adjustments and ending the Access to Work payment cap

How: As I Outlined Earlier, About Which I Will Get The Minister For Disabled People, Health And Work, My Hon. Friend The Member For North Swindon (Justin Tomlinson), To Write In Specific Detail

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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from concerns over the impact of the pandemic on disabled workers, particularly regarding employer support and reasonable adjustments.

Question

According to the Business Disability Forum, 11% of employers furloughed a disabled employee at the beginning of the pandemic after failing to provide reasonable adjustments. Disabled people have already been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, but it is clear that disabled workers are continuing to be forced out of employment through a lack of access to reasonable adjustments. Will the Government introduce mandatory timescales for employer-implementation of reasonable adjustments and end the Access to Work payment cap to prevent the disability employment gap from widening further?

Answer from Guy Opperman

Over the past year, there have been 2,500 more Disability Confident employers, a much more flexible system and greater extended support through Access to Work going forward. There are greater numbers of Disability Confident employers and Access to Work has been adapted during covid to help the disabled, with greater online assistance, extended timeframes, flexibility, mental health support and much, much more.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Introducing mandatory timescales for employer-implementation of reasonable adjustments and ending the Access to Work payment cap

How: As I Outlined Earlier, About Which I Will Get The Minister For Disabled People, Health And Work, My Hon. Friend The Member For North Swindon (Justin Tomlinson), To Write In Specific Detail

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)