Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Workplace Inclusivity and Accessibility

Wednesday 20 March 2024 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have a programme of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions in starting, staying and succeeding in work.
  • The Department has invested 2 billion in improving inclusivity and accessibility at work for disabled people and people facing health barriers.
  • Only 40% of disabled workers are aware of the Access to Work scheme, according to Scope.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marco Longhi
Employment
Context

The question addresses the government's initiatives to support disabled individuals in the workplace, including specific programmes like Access to Work.

Question

What steps she is taking to help increase inclusivity and accessibility at work for disabled people?

Answer from Mims Davies

The Government have a programme of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions in starting, staying and succeeding in work. That includes Access to Work, Disability Confident, and a digital information service for employers, which aim to increase inclusivity and accessibility for disabled people in the workplace.

Answered
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Q2 Marco Longhi
Employment Benefits & Welfare Mental Health
Context

The question highlights the work of the Beacon Centre for the Blind in Sedgley, where Marco Longhi met with partially sighted employees Kaydee and Nathan. The visit underlined the challenges faced by vulnerable people.

Question

What more can the Minister and her Department do to raise awareness and better support charities such as the Beacon Centre and its users?

Answer from Mims Davies

I met representatives from the Disability Charities Consortium yesterday, and some of those matters were discussed. We have invested £2 billion in improving inclusivity and accessibility at work for disabled people and people facing health barriers. We have hundreds of jobcentres across the country, and fantastic work coaches are tapping into extra support through our network of disability employment advisers to assist people just like Kaydee and Nathan.

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Q3 Marion Fellows SNP
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question addresses issues faced by disabled workers with the Access to Work scheme, such as long wait times, cost caps, and low awareness. Only 40% of disabled individuals are aware of this scheme.

Question

Adjustments are often vital for helping disabled people in their job, but Scope says that disabled workers face many issues with the Access to Work scheme, including a long wait for an assessment, a cap on costs, and low awareness of the scheme among disabled people. Only 40% of them know about it. Will the Minister work with her Cabinet colleagues to improve the Access to Work scheme and prevent the disability employment gap from widening?

Answer from Mims Davies

The Access to Work scheme is a demand-led personalised discretionary grant, but working with employers, looking around occupational health and other interventions to support people are equally as important. I can assure the hon. Lady that I met my officials yesterday about the Access to Work scheme. I am looking at any delays, any impacts and any changes every couple of weeks to ensure that people who want to work and need support can get it in a timely fashion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: long wait times, cost caps, low awareness among disabled individuals

How: Looking Around Occupational Health And Other Interventions

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