Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Young Disabled People: Labour Market Inequalities

Wednesday 3 September 2025 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jim Shannon asked the Minister about research showing that over half of young disabled benefit claimants with complex needs face limited job opportunities.
  • Deirdre Costigan highlighted the difference being made at West Ealing jobcentre with 1.3 billion of funding from the current Labour Government for employment support.
  • The Minister acknowledged the lasting harm disengagement from work can cause for young people and announced the launch of the youth guarantee to ensure access to quality training for 18 to 21-year-olds, including disabled young people.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Employment Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

Research by Sense found that more than half of disabled benefit claimants with complex needs between the ages of 18 and 34 say there are few jobs meeting their needs as disabled people.

Question

Research by the national disability charity Sense found that more than half of disabled benefit claimants with complex needs between the ages of 18 and 34 say that there are few jobs that meet their needs as disabled people. What steps can the Minister take to ensure that more employment opportunities are available to young disabled people with complex needs?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

There are excellent examples of job carving for people with complex needs, and we need more of that. We look forward to the report being submitted soon by Sir Charlie Mayfield on what more employers can do to open up opportunities for people out of work on disability grounds.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific steps or commitments to increase job opportunities for young disabled individuals with complex needs beyond mentioning the Mayfield review report.

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Q2 Deirdre Costigan Lab Ealing Southall
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The previous Conservative government left many young disabled people in Ealing Southall consigned to a lifetime on benefits. There is now £1.3 billion of funding from the current Labour Government for employment support.

Question

The last Conservative Government left so many young disabled people in Ealing Southall who wanted to work consigned to a lifetime on benefits, but at West Ealing jobcentre we are already seeing a difference being made, with £1.3 billion of funding for employment support from this Labour Government. Does the Minister agree that the Mayfield review offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to transform the workplace to make it more accessible for disabled people?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

I agree with my hon. Friend; she is absolutely right. Disengaging from work and learning in early adulthood can do lasting harm to career prospects and wellbeing. We are launching the youth guarantee so that all 18 to 21-year-olds in England, including disabled young people, can access quality training opportunities and apprenticeships or help to find work.

Answered
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