Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for People with Disabilities

Wednesday 15 May 2024 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Debbie Abrahams questioned the Government about reducing the disability employment gap and improving support for neurodiverse individuals in civil service jobs.
  • Caroline Nokes inquired why the current plan for supporting disabled people is not showing improvements in employment rates.
  • Ashley Dalton asked for an assessment of the adequacy of Government support for people with disabilities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
Employment Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

The United Nations has found that the Government have breached the rights of sick and disabled people, including their rights at work. The Department for Work and Pensions is accused of discriminating against sick and disabled people.

Question

Given that only 2.7% of participants in the Government's work and health programme have a successful job outcome, what meaningful proposals do the Government have to reduce the 29% disability employment gap?

Answer from Mims Davies

I thank the hon. Lady for her point, and I feel disappointed about the report from the United Nations. The Government strongly rejected its findings in 2016 but continue to implement the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities through policies like WorkWell, disability employment advisers, and fit note reform.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific proposals for reducing the disability employment gap were not provided

How: The Government Strongly Rejected Its Findings In 2016

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q2 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
Employment Benefits & Welfare Standards & Ethics
Context

The Minister is committed to disability employment.

Question

What is she doing, both at the DWP and in her wider role across Government, to ensure that inclusion is embedded in policy and leadership so that disabled people—particularly those who are neurodiverse—are supported into civil service jobs?

Answer from Mims Davies

We are delivering on the Buckland review, all ministerial Departments are signing up to Disability Confident, and we are working with parent Departments to encourage more of them to do the same. One in 10 senior civil servants declare themselves as disabled, and since 2013, the proportion of civil servants with a disability has increased.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q3 Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

In December, the issue of the disability pay gap was raised. Despite initial claims that the Government are closing the disability employment gap, statistics show a decrease in disabled people employed from January to March 2024 compared with the same period in 2023.

Question

Why does she think the plan is not working when there are fewer disabled people in employment compared to last year?

Answer from Mims Davies

The hon. Lady and I could trade statistics, but what I am interested in is opportunities for disabled people and people with health conditions, hence the work we are doing on the Buckland review, entrepreneurship, and the Lilac review. We will update the House soon.

Not addressed: The reason why disability employment initiatives might not be working was not addressed

How: We Could Trade Statistics

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q4 Ashley Dalton Lab West Lancashire
Education Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Government deliver wide-ranging support for disabled people, including in work and education.

Question

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of Government support for people with disabilities?

Answer from Mims Davies

The Government deliver wide-ranging support for disabled people, including in work and education. We continually seek to enhance support, such as via improvements to health and disability benefits system, accessibility of homes and transport, and through delivery of the national disability strategy and the disability action plan.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The adequacy of current Government support was not assessed specifically

How: We Continually Seek To Enhance Support

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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