← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Neurodiversity in the Workplace
17 December 2025
Lead MP
Sarah Hall
Warrington South
Lab/Co-op
Responding Minister
Dame Diana Johnson
Tags
NHSEmployment
Word Count: 4551
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Sarah Hall raised concerns about neurodiversity in the workplace in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Sarah Hall requests for workplaces to be designed inclusively from the start, recognising the need for reasonable adjustments based on individual needs rather than medical diagnoses.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Neurodiversity affects millions of people across the UK workforce, with around one in seven individuals being neurodivergent. Sarah Hall highlights that many neurodivergent workers experience harassment or discrimination and that nearly a third have not disclosed their condition due to fear of stigma.
Cameron Thomas
Con
Wyre Forest
Raises awareness about unconscious bias against women displaying neurodiverse traits and how it affects their career prospects. The hon. Member agrees that neurodiversity presents an opportunity to be fully exploited in the workplace, particularly through initiatives like the Disabled Children’s Partnership “Fight for Ordinary” campaign.
Chris Vince
Lab/Co-op
Harlow
Agrees with Sarah Hall that workplaces should not only support people in work but also help them get into work by addressing the complexity of job application processes for neurodiverse individuals.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Compliments Sarah Hall's motion and highlights significant work done in Northern Ireland on neuro-inclusion through governmental toolkits, but raises concern about small businesses lacking HR sections to implement necessary support.
Laurence Turner
Lab
Birmingham Northfield
Supports Sarah Hall's motion, highlighting the benefits of inclusive workplace designs that allow for clear routes to reasonable adjustments, citing work done by his union, GMB, through their 'Thinking Differently at Work' campaign. He highlighted the issue of reasonable adjustments being lost when managers change and suggested adopting a reasonable adjustments passport developed by unions.
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
The Member highlighted examples of successful neurodiverse individuals such as Bill Gates, Greta Thunberg, Richard Branson, Emma Watson, and Steve Jobs, emphasizing the need for employers to understand the contributions neurodivergent people can bring.
Elizabeth Truss
Discussed the Access to Work programme, Pathways to Work advisers supporting disabled individuals, Connect to Work scheme for neurodivergent people, employer support through digital services, and welcomed an independent review into mental health conditions.
Government Response
Dame Diana Johnson
The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions
Government Response
The Government has launched an independent panel to understand why neurodivergent people face poor experiences in work. ACAS will offer free masterclasses to small and medium-sized employers starting early 2026 to improve understanding of neurodiversity support. The 'Keep Britain Working' review aims to reshape how we support workers with better futures. Discussed the Access to Work programme, Pathways to Work advisers supporting disabled individuals, Connect to Work scheme for neurodivergent people, employer support through digital services, welcomed an independent review into mental health conditions, outlined commitments in public sector organisations regarding neurodiversity and disability confidence, acknowledged limitations in workforce data on specific neurodivergent conditions, mentioned the new independent disability advisory panel, and wished all hon. Members a merry Christmas.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.