Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Disability Employment Gap: Covid-19

Monday 28 June 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

  • The disability employment gap narrowed by 0.3 percentage points in the year to March 2021, standing at 28.6 percentage points.
  • The Government aims to see 1 million more disabled people in work by 2027.
  • A quarter of MPs are now Disability Confident employers following an all-party parliamentary group workshop.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lisa Cameron SNP
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from concerns about the widening disability employment gap due to the pandemic. The MP highlights a need for assessment.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the disability employment gap?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The narrowing gap is noted but does not address potential widening due to the pandemic directly.

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Q2 Lisa Cameron SNP
Employment Women & Equalities
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Praises efforts but does not explicitly encourage remaining MPs to sign up as asked.

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