22/02/2018

0:00:00 > 0:00:00supporting the autonomy of the Kurdish region is important. But so

0:00:00 > 0:00:08is supporting the right of the Iraqi government to territorial integrity.

0:00:08 > 0:00:14We now come to the second select committee statement. He will speak

0:00:14 > 0:00:17on this subject on this subject during which are no interventions

0:00:17 > 0:00:21will be taken. I will then call members to ask questions in the

0:00:21 > 0:00:26usual way. I called the chair of the Justice committee.Thank you very

0:00:26 > 0:00:33much, Deputy Speaker. This report results from what was described by

0:00:33 > 0:00:36Her Majesty 's Chief Inspector of prisons as one of the worst

0:00:36 > 0:00:41inspection reports of a prison he had ever seen. It is to meet the

0:00:41 > 0:00:45worst inspection report that our committee had ever seen, and it is

0:00:45 > 0:00:50because of the gravity of that situation that we took the unique

0:00:50 > 0:00:52step of holding a specific evidence session into that individual

0:00:52 > 0:00:58inquiry. Not only do it highlight conditions which the Chief inspector

0:00:58 > 0:01:04describes as squalid as Liverpool prison, and a history of

0:01:04 > 0:01:11deterioration over a two-year period, and a history of failure of

0:01:11 > 0:01:14management at a local national and regional level over a period of

0:01:14 > 0:01:20time, but also we believe it highlights a number of systemic

0:01:20 > 0:01:25problems which need to be addressed by the Ministry and Her Majesty 's

0:01:25 > 0:01:29prison and probation service. And also, highlights the need for

0:01:29 > 0:01:35approaching a fresh way in which we deal with Her Majesty 's of prisons

0:01:35 > 0:01:42is self. May I pay tribute to my colleagues on the select committee,

0:01:42 > 0:01:48a number of whom are present today, for their work on this report? And I

0:01:48 > 0:01:53may also welcome to his place my Hons friend the Minister, and I

0:01:53 > 0:01:57appreciate that he came and gave evidence to our inquiry so early on

0:01:57 > 0:02:04in his appointment to the posting which he now serves. Can I briefly

0:02:04 > 0:02:08outline the report against that grave background? This was a

0:02:08 > 0:02:15situation where Liverpool prison was inspected in 2015. It was failing

0:02:15 > 0:02:22them, it was a re-inspected again in 2017, it had got worse. Some of the

0:02:22 > 0:02:26conditions, a man with a mental health problems in a cell that was

0:02:26 > 0:02:30not fit the habitation, and that there was a serious maintenance

0:02:30 > 0:02:37backlog, were in fact the maintenance backlog had doubled from

0:02:37 > 0:02:411000 - 2000 over that period where its marking the guess the various

0:02:41 > 0:02:45tests have gone backwards indicate not only was there a gross failure

0:02:45 > 0:02:50of management locally and of oversight at a regional and national

0:02:50 > 0:02:54level, but also that the detailed recommendations of Her Majesty 's

0:02:54 > 0:02:58Inspectorate made in 2015 had not properly been addressed, the first

0:02:58 > 0:03:03systemic matter that we addressed. It's pretty clear that the national

0:03:03 > 0:03:06leadership was not the lurch to the situation as to what was happening

0:03:06 > 0:03:12on the ground. -- was not alert. The head of the prison service told us

0:03:12 > 0:03:18he had been informed by the local management that some 60% of the

0:03:18 > 0:03:23recommendations in 2015 were on track to be met. That was wrong. In

0:03:23 > 0:03:28fact, only 25% were met, 60% were not met. The leadership nationally

0:03:28 > 0:03:35was out of touch. When asked what was the role for the deputy Minister

0:03:35 > 0:03:38for corrections, who is supposed to have oversight for 12 prisons in

0:03:38 > 0:03:42that region, clearly there was failure in communication but a

0:03:42 > 0:03:45breakdown in the way the system operates there. Secondly this is not

0:03:45 > 0:03:52unique. The chief Inspectorate indicated to us this is a regular

0:03:52 > 0:03:56occurrence, that recommendations by the Inspectorate are not acted upon.

0:03:56 > 0:04:02The Minister rightly says to us that much greater use should be made of

0:04:02 > 0:04:05the Inspectorate's recommendations to drive changes in behaviour, he is

0:04:05 > 0:04:10right. We therefore recommend two specific matters to make greater use

0:04:10 > 0:04:14of that. Firstly at the moment, the prison service marks its own

0:04:14 > 0:04:18homework, that is not satisfactory and can breed complacency. We

0:04:18 > 0:04:23recommend the Inspectorate of prisons can be given an additional

0:04:23 > 0:04:26resource to follow up on the implementation of their

0:04:26 > 0:04:30recommendations and hold the prisons to account. This is not a large sum

0:04:30 > 0:04:34in the overall scheme of things, perhaps one inspection team should

0:04:34 > 0:04:40be sufficient to do that task and the overall saving will be offset.

0:04:40 > 0:04:42Secondly, ministers should take personal responsibility for seeing

0:04:42 > 0:04:47the inspection reports should be acted upon and accounts to the House

0:04:47 > 0:04:52for that perhaps through a letter to the Justice select committee. The

0:04:52 > 0:04:53first of our practical recommendations which we believe

0:04:53 > 0:04:59will offer a way forward. Secondly, there is the whole question of the

0:04:59 > 0:05:07oversight itself. Given that were these failings, we believe that

0:05:07 > 0:05:10greater work should be done on ensuring transparency and

0:05:10 > 0:05:13accountability of the above establishment teams within the

0:05:13 > 0:05:19Department. Thirdly, there was a clear problem with the facilities

0:05:19 > 0:05:24management contract. Not only had the backlog got worse, it's pretty

0:05:24 > 0:05:27clear that the basic issues which should be picked up in the contract

0:05:27 > 0:05:32were not done so. The fact we had rats and cockroaches infest it

0:05:32 > 0:05:36indicates the level of the problem. We are not satisfied with the

0:05:36 > 0:05:39explanations given for the failures in that contract and we believe

0:05:39 > 0:05:43there is need for greater transparency. So, we recommend that

0:05:43 > 0:05:50a major contracts, a national contract, will be subject to a

0:05:50 > 0:05:51public framework outlining the expectations, performance of

0:05:51 > 0:05:55penalties levies against the providers of failure and if there

0:05:55 > 0:06:00are penalties, they should frankly be a system of naming and shaming

0:06:00 > 0:06:04and a public notification of were failures occur and how much penalty

0:06:04 > 0:06:08is levied as a percentage of the contract against the provider.

0:06:08 > 0:06:11That's the point of outsourcing, to drive changes in behaviour but we

0:06:11 > 0:06:17need transparency and openness to do that. We also noted that part of the

0:06:17 > 0:06:21problem derives from persistent overcrowding. Liverpool prison was

0:06:21 > 0:06:25not understaffed, it was up to establishment but it was nonetheless

0:06:25 > 0:06:30pressed for numbers. So we recommend the ministry and prison service

0:06:30 > 0:06:35published a plan to resolve the problem of persistent overcrowding

0:06:35 > 0:06:42of the estate. The new governess for Liverpool was clearly doing a

0:06:42 > 0:06:45difficult job under difficult circumstances but we need an overall

0:06:45 > 0:06:49plan to deliver on overcrowding and must aim to reduce the prison

0:06:49 > 0:06:55population and or increase safe capacity. Can't have it both ways.

0:06:55 > 0:06:59We were also concerned with the poor situation with health care

0:06:59 > 0:07:04discovered at that stage. We were glad to see commitments from the

0:07:04 > 0:07:07prison services and NHS England publish a partnership agreement as

0:07:07 > 0:07:13to how they work together. The last partnership however it expired in

0:07:13 > 0:07:19April 2017 and a new one will not be in place until 2018. A one-year gap

0:07:19 > 0:07:22is not satisfactory and we need to have steps taken to ensure that does

0:07:22 > 0:07:28not happen again. And finally, we need to have a commitment there to

0:07:28 > 0:07:32make sure there is decent health care. It was explained to us because

0:07:32 > 0:07:35of the overcrowding and the nature of the regime, frequently prisoners

0:07:35 > 0:07:40could not be brought to health care appointments from their cells. We

0:07:40 > 0:07:44need a better approach to that. Those are the principal

0:07:44 > 0:07:49recommendations of our report which I commence to the House. At the end

0:07:49 > 0:07:53of the day, the decency of a society is judged by the way in which it

0:07:53 > 0:07:58treats those who offend against it as much as the way it treats those

0:07:58 > 0:08:03who do well by it. Liverpool failed in that regard. We did not House

0:08:03 > 0:08:09prisoners in the decent conditions that boasts, humanity and our

0:08:09 > 0:08:14international and domestic legal obligations order that we should.

0:08:14 > 0:08:18That failure cannot be allowed to happen again. Making greater use of

0:08:18 > 0:08:21the Inspectorate and its tools and adopting our recommendations will I

0:08:21 > 0:08:27hope be a constructive way forward to assist the ministry in what I

0:08:27 > 0:08:32entirely believe is his intention, to get the basics right and

0:08:32 > 0:08:35improving the prison service. In that spirit, we put the report

0:08:35 > 0:08:40before the House and commend it to him.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I

0:08:40 > 0:08:44welcome the committee report and thank the chair of the select

0:08:44 > 0:08:51committee for his quick decision to hold an evident session on HM

0:08:51 > 0:08:59peelable? I -- HMP Liverpool. I commend his statements to hold this

0:08:59 > 0:09:04to a camp in prisons fail. We lost another life in prison this week,

0:09:04 > 0:09:07Anthony Payne suffered with mental health problems and died in his cell

0:09:07 > 0:09:14on Monday. The report does not mention in detail the failure to

0:09:14 > 0:09:17invest in infrastructure, renovate wings or loss and replacement of

0:09:17 > 0:09:22prison officer numbers. And critically, resources. Having seen

0:09:22 > 0:09:25the prison with my own eyes, there is no doubt these are basic but

0:09:25 > 0:09:30expensive requirements. In a written answer to me, the Minister says

0:09:30 > 0:09:34there is no plan to publish the cost or programme of urgent works at HMP

0:09:34 > 0:09:39Liverpool. Will he agree with me that is a vital we now have

0:09:39 > 0:09:43transparency across our prison network and the improvements that

0:09:43 > 0:09:49are necessary, if we are to see a real change?I'm grateful to the

0:09:49 > 0:09:53Gentleman, I know he knows Liverpool Wharton Jail, as often called

0:09:53 > 0:09:58locally, very well. I entirely understand the point of his remarks

0:09:58 > 0:10:02and I hope the ministry will reflect upon that. The whole thrust of our

0:10:02 > 0:10:05report is to say we need to shine the light on transparency and

0:10:05 > 0:10:10publicity on these matters. We've also in a separate piece of work

0:10:10 > 0:10:14have in hand and enquiry into the shape of the prison population by

0:10:14 > 0:10:202020 and part of that is again dealing with overcrowding. Our

0:10:20 > 0:10:24recommendation is part of that, getting the fabric right is

0:10:24 > 0:10:28necessary, Wharton Jail, Liverpool prison is one of the old Victorian

0:10:28 > 0:10:33prisons and there is a real need for work done there. If we are

0:10:33 > 0:10:35publishing the public framework arena on facilities maintenance, I

0:10:35 > 0:10:39don't see why we should be able to have similar publicity about the

0:10:39 > 0:10:45capital works.Thank you, deputy Speaker. This is also a historic

0:10:45 > 0:10:52opportunity. It's almost the first time in more than 200 years of our

0:10:52 > 0:10:57prison service in which we have had an individual prison to base it on

0:10:57 > 0:11:02the floor of the House. I'd like to pay to reach to the Justice select

0:11:02 > 0:11:05committee to bring this forward, the situation in Liverpool prison was

0:11:05 > 0:11:10genuinely shocking. It is very disturbing and it's unbelievably

0:11:10 > 0:11:14important that select committees, inspectors, members of Parliament

0:11:14 > 0:11:18hold us accountable for prisons. These are closed communities, often

0:11:18 > 0:11:25hidden away from the public. Often in many areas, they can be forgotten

0:11:25 > 0:11:28and without this scrutiny, standards can drop and standards dropped very

0:11:28 > 0:11:32seriously in the Liverpool prison. The condition in itself is

0:11:32 > 0:11:36unacceptable, the conditions with which prisoners were treated was

0:11:36 > 0:11:41unacceptable, the lack of purposeful activity was unacceptable. We are

0:11:41 > 0:11:45now addressing this very hard and quickly, but there is still huge

0:11:45 > 0:11:48lessons to be learned through the system. I'd like to pay tribute to

0:11:48 > 0:11:53the new governor. So, the new governor has come in, she has taken

0:11:53 > 0:11:58ourselves out of commission and is very clear both that she has cleaned

0:11:58 > 0:12:02the prison but also that her objective over the next six months

0:12:02 > 0:12:07is to get those cells into a smart, good condition. We now have the

0:12:07 > 0:12:09money in place to put new windows in place and she is very focused on

0:12:09 > 0:12:15making sure that the education and employment activity is good. But

0:12:15 > 0:12:18more generally, there are lessons here right the way through the

0:12:18 > 0:12:23prison system. We need to get the basics right, there is no point

0:12:23 > 0:12:28talking about rehabilitation or dealing with reoffending and less we

0:12:28 > 0:12:33have clean, decent safe spaces for all prisoners. So, we want our

0:12:33 > 0:12:37prisons to be smart and well functioning. We're bringing in over

0:12:37 > 0:12:422000 more prison officers and that will relieve some of the prison

0:12:42 > 0:12:48estate pressures. But these are new prison officers, they are going to

0:12:48 > 0:12:52need training, the support until they have the prison craft to be

0:12:52 > 0:12:57able to deliver what we require. More generally, we also need to

0:12:57 > 0:13:02invest I believe a lot more in training. Because prisons are

0:13:02 > 0:13:05unbelievably complex environments, the governor needs to have the

0:13:05 > 0:13:08support, the training and I think this could be months of training, to

0:13:08 > 0:13:13make sure the governor is in position to turn around the prison.

0:13:13 > 0:13:18Training needs to apply to uniform staff and finally the role of the

0:13:18 > 0:13:20inspector in the select committee will be vital in improving

0:13:20 > 0:13:27performance. And he very much, Mr Deputy Speaker.

0:13:27 > 0:13:30I am grateful to the Minister for that response. He was very much on

0:13:30 > 0:13:36the case in recognising that we must get basic things, basic willingness,

0:13:36 > 0:13:40basic decency come a basic maintenance, the ability to run a

0:13:40 > 0:13:46regime where people can actually get out to appointment is for health

0:13:46 > 0:13:50care. All of that is critical. Unless we turn those things around,

0:13:50 > 0:13:54we face a crisis in our prisons. I look forward to working with him on

0:13:54 > 0:13:58those matters, especially if he will take up our recommendations with

0:13:58 > 0:14:06regards to the Inspectorate. I can say that this is a case of a small

0:14:06 > 0:14:10investment paying off in the long-term.I rise to speak in my

0:14:10 > 0:14:18role as co-chair of a Parliamentary group. While I welcomed the report,

0:14:18 > 0:14:25it is is that the Justice committee did not take evidence from union

0:14:25 > 0:14:31representatives. I understand that maintenance contractors refused to

0:14:31 > 0:14:36undertake pest control at HMP Liverpool. The previous governor,

0:14:36 > 0:14:40who is also not called to give evidence, had to use is already hard

0:14:40 > 0:14:52pushed Budget. The autonomy is a convenient cover for the prison's

0:14:52 > 0:14:58state.The select committee engaged with the POA on a number of

0:14:58 > 0:15:04occasions, and on an ongoing basis will stop secondly, the issues in

0:15:04 > 0:15:07relation to facilities maintenance were examined in some detail as far

0:15:07 > 0:15:13as that matter is concerned. We indicate a report that we are not

0:15:13 > 0:15:16satisfied with the outcome is and intends to return to that. Thirdly,

0:15:16 > 0:15:22it was specifically not the role to examined the position of the

0:15:22 > 0:15:33previous governor going forward. We had evidence from the current

0:15:33 > 0:15:36governor as to what is happening now. We did not think that going

0:15:36 > 0:15:42back into the history would be constructive. We are trying to make

0:15:42 > 0:15:46sure that this state of affairs does not occur again.One of the most

0:15:46 > 0:15:51distressing aspects of this report is its relationship to health care.

0:15:51 > 0:15:58My honourable friend has spoken about health care. Does he, like me,

0:15:58 > 0:16:03share the view that we have no confidence in the partnership

0:16:03 > 0:16:06agreement that is going to be brought forward, because one thing

0:16:06 > 0:16:10it will not do is to get prisoners out of their cells to attend

0:16:10 > 0:16:17appointments?He is right. I am grateful to him for his work on the

0:16:17 > 0:16:19select committee on this and many other reports. That is why we are

0:16:19 > 0:16:25calling for the partnership agreement to be published, so we can

0:16:25 > 0:16:28actually examine it. At the moment, we cannot be satisfied it is fit for

0:16:28 > 0:16:33purpose. Previous partnership agreements have broken down, so we

0:16:33 > 0:16:39need to know how this will be different both in its structure and

0:16:39 > 0:16:41how it will operate, to have the reassurance we will not have a

0:16:41 > 0:16:48repetition of what happened in the past.Let me congratulate the chair

0:16:48 > 0:16:52and the members of the committee for what is an excellent and timely and

0:16:52 > 0:16:57important report. If we are to move out prison estate from being simply

0:16:57 > 0:17:07places of detention in whatever apparatus condition, to where

0:17:07 > 0:17:12rehabilitation is key, which is what prisons have to be. While this moves

0:17:12 > 0:17:17us forward, we have a lot of journey to travel. There does need to be

0:17:17 > 0:17:22something that can reconcile whether we are delivering the policy of

0:17:22 > 0:17:26health care and education and all the other things that are necessary

0:17:26 > 0:17:30inside a prison to allow how young men to come out and be acceptable

0:17:30 > 0:17:35citizens. He is absolutely right. I know how

0:17:35 > 0:17:41closely he has followed this as a police and crime Commissioner in his

0:17:41 > 0:17:47part of the world. This is a useful step forward, but I don't pretend it

0:17:47 > 0:17:53can be more than that. It has to be part of a system exchange, and I

0:17:53 > 0:17:59hope it drives that. We have to look at a long-term strategy of what the

0:17:59 > 0:18:04purpose of our prisons is.I thank him and his committee for their

0:18:04 > 0:18:07report. When the Care Quality Commission goes into investigate

0:18:07 > 0:18:10local hospitals, it makes a recommendation, and goes back at a

0:18:10 > 0:18:14later date to see whether those recommendations have been

0:18:14 > 0:18:20implemented. I can't see why that cannot take place with prisons. It

0:18:20 > 0:18:26is alarming that the information from the prison to the head of the

0:18:26 > 0:18:29prison service was so inaccurate. Given the speed of the report, witty

0:18:29 > 0:18:34encourage the Minister to be equally quick in responding to the findings

0:18:34 > 0:18:40is committee has delivered?The quick answers are yes, yes, yes and

0:18:40 > 0:18:59yes. I'm sure the Minister will be quick in doing that. I'm sure it

0:19:01 > 0:19:06will be similar to an Ofsted report or a CQC report where they will not

0:19:06 > 0:19:13be ignored for very long.I thank the committee for their quick action

0:19:13 > 0:19:15and their quick reports. We must not forget how we arrived at this

0:19:15 > 0:19:21situation. Pleased about the announcement sometime ago about

0:19:21 > 0:19:26recruiting an extra 2500 prison officers, but we must not forget we

0:19:26 > 0:19:42lost 7000. there is a 4500 gap. The nature of the inmates changed. We

0:19:42 > 0:19:44have had all of the historical sexual abuse cases, with different

0:19:44 > 0:19:55health needs than and prisoners that were already in prison. There have

0:19:55 > 0:20:03been drains on the resources. At the same time, the loss of those 7000

0:20:03 > 0:20:11meant there were spikes in drugs. Morale went down with the loss of

0:20:11 > 0:20:16those prison officers. When we started to recruit, a baggage

0:20:16 > 0:20:22handler could be paid more than a new recruit. It is important that

0:20:22 > 0:20:27when we do recruit, and we are recruiting now, when we do recruit

0:20:27 > 0:20:32that they are trained properly. Not a week or something like that, but

0:20:32 > 0:20:40months. It is resources that are needed. Money is important, but it

0:20:40 > 0:20:45is also how that money is used. Contract management, there has been

0:20:45 > 0:20:51absolutely no contract management from what I can see. I called for a

0:20:51 > 0:20:57debate on mental health in prisons, and it didn't appear that there was

0:20:57 > 0:21:01any communication between the prisons and the Health Service. The

0:21:01 > 0:21:05contract was awarded, money given, no monitoring of the contracts. As

0:21:05 > 0:21:11the chair of the Justice select committee said, it is about systems,

0:21:11 > 0:21:16about getting them right. It is also about resources, getting the right

0:21:16 > 0:21:25people in, training them.Excellent. I very much welcome the honourable

0:21:25 > 0:21:30lady back to the committee, where she has served before. I am glad

0:21:30 > 0:21:35she's back with us once more. It is quite right that we have to look at

0:21:35 > 0:21:40all of these issues, there is no silver bullet to address that. We

0:21:40 > 0:21:46need a comrade 's plan. I urge the Government -- we need a

0:21:46 > 0:21:55comprehensive plan. I look forward to working to achieve that.

0:21:55 > 0:22:00Staffing, resources, training, morale, management and proper

0:22:00 > 0:22:02contract management are all part of the mix that we will need to

0:22:02 > 0:22:15address.Motion number one on estimates. Minister to move. Thank

0:22:15 > 0:22:27you. The question is as the order paper. There is a lot of enthusiasm

0:22:27 > 0:22:31here! I'm not sure we need this estimate. I think we will say the

0:22:31 > 0:22:40ayes have it. We now come to the backbench. A backbench motion on the

0:22:40 > 0:22:45role of disabled people in economic growth. Up to 15 minutes speaking.

0:22:45 > 0:22:52Many thanks. I would like to pay to be to give the backbench Business

0:22:52 > 0:22:54Committee for enabling this extremely important debate to take

0:22:54 > 0:23:00place today. Mr Deputy Speaker, before I begin, I want to pay

0:23:00 > 0:23:06tribute to the many organisations that continuously championed the

0:23:06 > 0:23:10rights of people with disabilities across the UK. Without their

0:23:10 > 0:23:14injuring commitment, we would not be debating this important issue today.

0:23:14 > 0:23:21-- enduring commitment. I want to pay to beach to Leonard Cheshire and

0:23:21 > 0:23:31disability rights UK

0:23:31 > 0:23:35pay to beach to Leonard Cheshire and disability rights UK. There are

0:23:35 > 0:23:41dedicated medics that contributed to the all-party parliamentary groups

0:23:41 > 0:23:48ahead of the enquiry report. Since commissioning the report, the

0:23:48 > 0:23:51disability all-party Parliamentary group has been pressing the

0:23:51 > 0:23:55Government to address the disability employment gap as a matter of

0:23:55 > 0:24:00urgency. I know the minister today is open and willing to listen to the

0:24:00 > 0:24:06report's suggestions. Mr Deputy Speaker, the backbench debate is a

0:24:06 > 0:24:11significant step forward in the fight for equal rights for disabled

0:24:11 > 0:24:15people. To my knowledge, this is the first time that people with

0:24:15 > 0:24:23disabilities will be debated in the main chamber with a focus on their

0:24:23 > 0:24:27abilities and as contributors to our economy, not as employees but also

0:24:27 > 0:24:35as entrepreneurs and business leaders.Would she agree with me

0:24:35 > 0:24:43that many employers need education, particularly those with mental

0:24:43 > 0:24:53health issues, as many employers are scared or reluctant to take on such

0:24:53 > 0:25:00issues.I thank him for his contribution. I think it is an

0:25:00 > 0:25:04extremely important contribution. Just prior to this debate, only

0:25:04 > 0:25:08yesterday, I was contacted by a number of people and organisations

0:25:08 > 0:25:12reminding me to highlight that very issue. People with mental health

0:25:12 > 0:25:23difficulties and people with not apparent disabilities find it

0:25:23 > 0:25:25difficult to raise awareness of their disabilities and the

0:25:25 > 0:25:31adjustments they require. We need heightened awareness amongst

0:25:31 > 0:25:38employers and Parliament, I may suggest, to make sure that we can

0:25:38 > 0:25:42harness the skills and potential of everyone for our economy. I thank

0:25:42 > 0:25:48the honourable gentleman. All too often, people with disabilities are

0:25:48 > 0:25:52portrayed as passive and and willing to work. However, this could never

0:25:52 > 0:25:56be further from the truth. I want to use this debate to change the

0:25:56 > 0:26:04narrative. I want to see meaningful action rather than research and

0:26:04 > 0:26:08rhetoric. I want to see a welfare system that treats people with

0:26:08 > 0:26:12disabilities as a willing and able workforce. I want to see

0:26:12 > 0:26:18improvements in current access routes, the development of work

0:26:18 > 0:26:22those cultures that reflect a genuine appreciation on the part of

0:26:22 > 0:26:26employers to the positive contributions that people with

0:26:26 > 0:26:30disabilities make. I want to see accredited business schemes that no

0:26:30 > 0:26:35further than ticking boxes. While I might not be able to cover all of

0:26:35 > 0:26:38these points in my speech today, I know colleagues cross-party around

0:26:38 > 0:26:46the benches will be passionately advocating similar policy changes

0:26:46 > 0:26:49and attitude changes which are much needed. I hope the Minister will

0:26:49 > 0:26:54take on board everyone's suggestions here the date, and they will make

0:26:54 > 0:27:00progress going forward. I want to start my speech on a positive,

0:27:00 > 0:27:03uplifting note. I have been absolutely heartened hearing

0:27:03 > 0:27:08accounts of disabled entrepreneurs, employees and businesses that are

0:27:08 > 0:27:14champions of their fields in the past few weeks was dubbed I would

0:27:14 > 0:27:21like to share some examples today. A tech entrepreneur recently run an

0:27:21 > 0:27:25award for disabled entrepreneurs, run in conjunction with Leonard

0:27:25 > 0:27:30Cheshire disability. After creating a video diary app that supports

0:27:30 > 0:27:38people to manage their mental health, called Mental Snap. They can

0:27:38 > 0:27:45rate their mood and named their feelings. It is innovation at its

0:27:45 > 0:27:50finest, I applaud her for creating the app which will help so many

0:27:50 > 0:28:01people moving forward. A business leader that owns his own sock

0:28:01 > 0:28:05company that made several million pounds in its first year. Its owner

0:28:05 > 0:28:18has Down's syndrome. He runs the company in conjunction with his

0:28:18 > 0:28:22father and is the face of the brand. He is a business leader and manager.

0:28:22 > 0:28:31Nearly a third of his staff have disabilities. He is a businessman,

0:28:31 > 0:28:35and therefore is looking for good

0:28:35 > 0:28:36disabilities. He is a businessman, and therefore is looking for good,

0:28:36 > 0:28:39reliable workers, and he believes the disabled community have a vast

0:28:39 > 0:28:46and untapped pool of workers. There are also benefits to a diverse

0:28:46 > 0:28:51workforce. Channel 4 and Sainsbury is a good examples of inclusive

0:28:51 > 0:28:57employers. Sainsbury's and Channel 4's workplace adjustment guide is

0:28:57 > 0:29:02second to none top both companies choose to focus on positive aspects

0:29:02 > 0:29:07of making adjustments, rather than their legal duty and minimal

0:29:07 > 0:29:10requirements to do so. Most importantly, these policies are

0:29:10 > 0:29:16dissed to be did to all line managers so everyone is aware of the

0:29:16 > 0:29:21adjustments they are entitled to creating, and inclusive implement

0:29:21 > 0:29:26and environment workforce so that employees and the companies output

0:29:26 > 0:29:30can thrive.

0:29:30 > 0:29:34Channel 4 goes further by issuing passports for employees after

0:29:34 > 0:29:39receiving a workplace adjustment, so when they move into a new roller or

0:29:39 > 0:29:44perhaps their line manager changes, the passport can be referred to and

0:29:44 > 0:29:48used in all future discussions with the new line managers. Whilst there

0:29:48 > 0:29:53are many other great examples of disabled business owners and

0:29:53 > 0:29:57entrepreneurs and also inclusive employers, I wanted to highlight

0:29:57 > 0:30:03these particular three. Each example shows that in every corner of our

0:30:03 > 0:30:07economy, in every type and size of business, inclusivity should be

0:30:07 > 0:30:12championed. Not just for ethical reasons, but also because it makes

0:30:12 > 0:30:21good business and economic sense to do so.I thank her for securing this

0:30:21 > 0:30:25debate and also for the examples is given about the good practices in

0:30:25 > 0:30:31certain organisations, but is she aware that only 16% of people with

0:30:31 > 0:30:36autism are in full-time employment and only 30% of autistic adults are

0:30:36 > 0:30:38any kind of employment at all and will she agreed with me much more

0:30:38 > 0:30:45needs to be done to close the employment gap in autism?I thank my

0:30:45 > 0:30:51colleagues for that extremely important intervention. And for

0:30:51 > 0:30:54highlighting the autism employment gap, which is far too large, much

0:30:54 > 0:31:00larger even than the disability employment gap. We much make extra

0:31:00 > 0:31:02strides to support people with autism into work because they have

0:31:02 > 0:31:09great skills and abilities. And they will be fantastic tribute to our

0:31:09 > 0:31:14economy given appropriate opportunities to do so.I'm grateful

0:31:14 > 0:31:18for giving way and for securing this important debate. I would like to

0:31:18 > 0:31:26salute the work she does on disability. I sit on the Work and

0:31:26 > 0:31:29Pensions select committee and one of the things we are looking at the

0:31:29 > 0:31:37moment is how employers, work coaches, and people with disability

0:31:37 > 0:31:41can better understand the assistive technology emerging. Does she think

0:31:41 > 0:31:47that we could do more to bring those three interested parties together to

0:31:47 > 0:31:52help people to enter and stay in the workforce?I thank him for a very

0:31:52 > 0:31:57important intervention. I am not a technical buff myself, but I'm

0:31:57 > 0:32:03always heartened when we can see technology assisting people to

0:32:03 > 0:32:05achieve their potential into work and I think it is extremely

0:32:05 > 0:32:09important example he is giving. We need collaboration to dig those

0:32:09 > 0:32:16issues forward. Thank you. Mr Deputy Speaker, examples of best practice

0:32:16 > 0:32:20are exactly that, examples to aspire to, and as uplifting as they are,

0:32:20 > 0:32:25they are not a true reflection of the experience of many disabled

0:32:25 > 0:32:29people. They do not reflect the systemic problems and barriers faced

0:32:29 > 0:32:33by people with disability looking for work or trying to retain it, and

0:32:33 > 0:32:36it is time for Parliament to question why these practices in

0:32:36 > 0:32:40moving forward and in developing inclusivity are not more

0:32:40 > 0:32:48commonplace. In 2017, a report was published which found that one in

0:32:48 > 0:32:51two people with disabilities had experienced bullying and harassment

0:32:51 > 0:32:57in work and felt that they could no longer take place in work

0:32:57 > 0:33:02comfortably, and over half, 58%, felt the risk of losing their jobs,

0:33:02 > 0:33:06so not only is it about getting people into work, but ensuring an

0:33:06 > 0:33:10environment which maintains people in work and helps them to achieve

0:33:10 > 0:33:16their potential throughout. Disabled people also have to apply for more

0:33:16 > 0:33:22jobs than non-disabled people before finding one. Research has indicated

0:33:22 > 0:33:29almost up to 60% more jobs have to be applied for. Lauren Pitt, in

0:33:29 > 0:33:342017, reported to the Independent she had to apply for over 250 jobs

0:33:34 > 0:33:38before securing one, so something is obviously not working correctly and

0:33:38 > 0:33:43we must ensure that employers are open to employing people with

0:33:43 > 0:33:46disabilities. Seeing their skills. Seeing their ability and value to

0:33:46 > 0:33:51the workplace and the economy. The disability employment gap is large

0:33:51 > 0:33:58and enduring for the most recent figures from 2017 showed the gap

0:33:58 > 0:34:04currently stands at 31.4%. 80% of non-disabled people of working age

0:34:04 > 0:34:09are in work, but the figure for people with disabilities is just

0:34:09 > 0:34:1449%. This has routinely been recognised by the Government and, in

0:34:14 > 0:34:18the 2015 manifesto, they committed to having this disability employment

0:34:18 > 0:34:23gap, but research from the all-party Parliamentary group shows, on the

0:34:23 > 0:34:28basis of progress to September 2016, this would have taken 49 years to

0:34:28 > 0:34:35achieve. The 2017 manifesto replaced this commitment with a new

0:34:35 > 0:34:37commitment to get 1 million more disabled people into work in the

0:34:37 > 0:34:43next ten years. Analysis shows this new target is weaker and likely to

0:34:43 > 0:34:48be met perhaps because of the number of disabled people within the

0:34:48 > 0:34:51working age population itself increasing. This means that even

0:34:51 > 0:34:55though local Government could meet their new target, the size of the

0:34:55 > 0:34:59disability employment gap may not actually fall and this is something

0:34:59 > 0:35:06that we must take account of. Most of the Government's proposals for

0:35:06 > 0:35:08reaching the more attainable commitment are published within the

0:35:08 > 0:35:13command paper improving lives, and brief look at this paper shows

0:35:13 > 0:35:17almost all of these policies are dependent on further research and

0:35:17 > 0:35:21pilot schemes and cost of very little to run. So I would ask that

0:35:21 > 0:35:25we have adequate resourcing and prioritisation. We cannot afford to

0:35:25 > 0:35:32sit and wait. Unemployed people with disabilities are entitled to the

0:35:32 > 0:35:36same opportunities now as everyone else. Our economy cannot afford to

0:35:36 > 0:35:43sit and wait either. Scope estimated using the employment gap for

0:35:43 > 0:35:48disability by just 10% and generate a further £12 billion to the

0:35:48 > 0:35:53exchequer by 2030, so this makes absolute economic sense. Finding a

0:35:53 > 0:35:57solution to the problem goes significantly beyond the

0:35:57 > 0:36:02Government's current focus on welfare and benefits. Instead, we

0:36:02 > 0:36:05will not see significant increases in the number of disabled people in

0:36:05 > 0:36:09employment unless employers can be in courage to increase their game

0:36:09 > 0:36:12and acknowledge the positive contribution that people with

0:36:12 > 0:36:15disabilities make in the workplace and develop new workplace cultures

0:36:15 > 0:36:19and practices that are accommodating. Reasonable

0:36:19 > 0:36:28adjustments are key. I will very briefly...Very briefly, just to

0:36:28 > 0:36:33support what she is saying about the businesses, does she think that

0:36:33 > 0:36:40there may be a case for having larger employers report on the

0:36:40 > 0:36:43proportion of their workforce that has a disability, so that we can see

0:36:43 > 0:36:47those larger employers that are not pulling their weight and taking

0:36:47 > 0:36:53advantage of the high quality disabled employees in the market?

0:36:53 > 0:37:00Yes, I agree entirely with the honourable gentleman on that point,

0:37:00 > 0:37:03and it is particularly concerning that the Office for National

0:37:03 > 0:37:06Statistics has suspended publication of disability statistics from the

0:37:06 > 0:37:09labour Force survey, so I think that's something we should be

0:37:09 > 0:37:16ensuring is taken forward. It is in an employer's self-interest to make

0:37:16 > 0:37:21a difference in this area, not least because it gives a solution to the

0:37:21 > 0:37:25labour market problems likely to face the country in tighter controls

0:37:25 > 0:37:29on the free movement of people. The UK currently has a skills shortage

0:37:29 > 0:37:35that will become more profound once we leave the European Union. Indeed,

0:37:35 > 0:37:39KPMG recently published figures indicating almost 1 million EU

0:37:39 > 0:37:45citizens, many highly qualified, planning to leave following Brexit.

0:37:45 > 0:37:50We already have a willing workforce of people with disabilities whose

0:37:50 > 0:37:53skills are undervalued, who should be trained in sectors that are

0:37:53 > 0:37:59developing and which are much needed for the future. Health and tech

0:37:59 > 0:38:03sectors are extremely important. It is fundamentally a labour supply

0:38:03 > 0:38:08issue full for the Government will not be able to deliver on its

0:38:08 > 0:38:11industrial strategy if it does not have the capacity to do so. So we

0:38:11 > 0:38:18need to train our working workforces across the UK and see more

0:38:18 > 0:38:21investment in apprenticeships and targeted widespread advertising and

0:38:21 > 0:38:26of current access to work schemes to encourage the business community to

0:38:26 > 0:38:30utilise their workforce. The new commitment in the industrial

0:38:30 > 0:38:32strategy is to increase the proportion of apprenticeships

0:38:32 > 0:38:38starting by people with disabilities by 20% and I commend the Minister,

0:38:38 > 0:38:44but it is not enough, it is part of the solution. The Government

0:38:44 > 0:38:46acknowledges this critical role for employers but its main policy with

0:38:46 > 0:38:51regards to this is to encourage or employers to sign up to confidence

0:38:51 > 0:38:55schemes forth as I've argued previously in Parliament, the

0:38:55 > 0:39:00evidence from disability confidence is variable, it shows the scheme

0:39:00 > 0:39:04does not refer enough and result in enough people being employed and it

0:39:04 > 0:39:07is particularly worrying therefore that improving lives command paper

0:39:07 > 0:39:10uses this scheme is one of its central policies for achieving

0:39:10 > 0:39:16targets. The all-party Parliamentary group points out a number of

0:39:16 > 0:39:19alternative bold new policy initiatives the Government should

0:39:19 > 0:39:24pursue. These include using public film and contracts as leveraged by

0:39:24 > 0:39:28stipulating that such contracts will only go to firms which monitor

0:39:28 > 0:39:34disabled people's employment and commit to adopting an inclusive

0:39:34 > 0:39:37approach to employment and retention policies and to that end, Government

0:39:37 > 0:39:41initiatives should think of people with disabilities not just as

0:39:41 > 0:39:45employees but entrepreneurs and business leaders also. The

0:39:45 > 0:39:47Government must ensure disabled entrepreneurs receive the support

0:39:47 > 0:39:52they need from business advisory networks such as the Federation of

0:39:52 > 0:39:55businesses and local chambers of commerce. And the financial support

0:39:55 > 0:40:00that they need from bodies such as innovate UK and the British business

0:40:00 > 0:40:06bank. Mr Deputy Speaker, I refer to two examples of entrepreneurs with

0:40:06 > 0:40:09disabilities Ilia and the notion disabled people can be business

0:40:09 > 0:40:13owners and entrepreneurs as one as employees was completely missed by

0:40:13 > 0:40:18the improving lives paper. We must ensure disabled people are not

0:40:18 > 0:40:22pigeonholed into one sector and have the opportunity to choose their own

0:40:22 > 0:40:26future and be masters of their lives, and that is why the access to

0:40:26 > 0:40:30work scheme should also apply to start-ups, to accommodate the talent

0:40:30 > 0:40:35and innovation of people with disabilities. The Government must go

0:40:35 > 0:40:39further and find a specialist advice services about taxation and benefits

0:40:39 > 0:40:43for people with disabilities who want to explore the opportunities of

0:40:43 > 0:40:48self-employment. As I have laid out today, the solutions are there and

0:40:48 > 0:40:54every corner of the economy, if action is taken the benefits could

0:40:54 > 0:40:57be felt by all in society immediately but for this to happen

0:40:57 > 0:41:03we need to change the current narrative so that good policy is put

0:41:03 > 0:41:06into practice. So my constituents and those of other honourable

0:41:06 > 0:41:11members throughout the land recognise that we do need to tap

0:41:11 > 0:41:14into the underutilised and important human resource of people with

0:41:14 > 0:41:18disabilities who are willing and able to work. The workforce is there

0:41:18 > 0:41:25and ready and it will only grow when we leave the European Union. It in

0:41:25 > 0:41:29the self-interest of employers, Government, of everyone to engage

0:41:29 > 0:41:37with this agenda and to accommodate a diverse and inclusive workforce.

0:41:37 > 0:41:40There are far too many disabled people who are facing no real

0:41:40 > 0:41:48prospect in today's job market. This is simply unsustainable and, quite

0:41:48 > 0:41:50frankly, bad economics. So I am pleased to have been able to bring

0:41:50 > 0:41:56this debate to the chamber today and I look forward to hearing from other

0:41:56 > 0:42:01colleagues's experiences and I look forward to working together as part

0:42:01 > 0:42:04of the Parliamentary group for disability across the House in

0:42:04 > 0:42:09taking this extremely important issue forward.The question is as on

0:42:09 > 0:42:14the order paper.Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker Fulston I shall try

0:42:14 > 0:42:18to be better behaved today. I'm truly grateful to the honourable

0:42:18 > 0:42:21lady for East Kilbride for leading this afternoon 's debate and for the

0:42:21 > 0:42:24tone she strikes and her constructive ideas. This follows a

0:42:24 > 0:42:29valuable Westminster board debate tabled by the Member for South

0:42:29 > 0:42:31Perthshire on the government's disability confidence scheme which

0:42:31 > 0:42:34she also made a thoughtful contribution to. During that debate,

0:42:34 > 0:42:38members highlighted some of the economic opportunities before us if

0:42:38 > 0:42:41we increased participation of disabled people in the workplace. We

0:42:41 > 0:42:44also focused on barriers to employment, the disability

0:42:44 > 0:42:48employment gap, and the access to work scheme and as such, I shan't go

0:42:48 > 0:42:51into the subject again be on suggesting that the disability

0:42:51 > 0:42:55employment gap is an issue every business and other workforce diverse

0:42:55 > 0:43:01have as a challenge. That a lack of employment awareness of the support

0:43:01 > 0:43:04available and we ought to lead in publicising the Government

0:43:04 > 0:43:07assistance and in this vein I have now signed up as a disability

0:43:07 > 0:43:11employer and have discussed at my local job centre the possibility of

0:43:11 > 0:43:13offering a work placement for local disabled job-seekers with an

0:43:13 > 0:43:18interest in politics. This afternoon however I wish to focus on economic

0:43:18 > 0:43:22costs if we fail to unlock the potential of disabled people of all

0:43:22 > 0:43:25ages as well as economic power of disabled people as both an active

0:43:25 > 0:43:29consumer group and as a motivation to develop new assisted technologies

0:43:29 > 0:43:33with broader application to a growing elderly population. I have

0:43:33 > 0:43:36previously highlighted the case love two artistic constituents who

0:43:36 > 0:43:39desperately want to work but struggle with the initial stage of

0:43:39 > 0:43:43any new job. But in the past few weeks I've met families of autistic

0:43:43 > 0:43:55children who believe that early

0:43:56 > 0:43:58support intervention as Woody must be focusing our attention. I

0:43:58 > 0:44:00recently visited first step, local charity which provide intensive

0:44:00 > 0:44:02development full support to preschool children. It can be a huge

0:44:02 > 0:44:04shock to parents to discover their child has a disability. It they

0:44:04 > 0:44:07assess and not just the development of a child of supporting parents

0:44:07 > 0:44:09themselves in a very non-judgemental environment. Caring for a child

0:44:09 > 0:44:11disabilities conveys a huge financial strain on a family

0:44:11 > 0:44:13particular parents need to take time off work and do not have the right

0:44:13 > 0:44:16support network in place. However, in the words of one local parent, a

0:44:16 > 0:44:20failure to develop a child is not only a moral mistake, but also an

0:44:20 > 0:44:27expensive financial one.

0:44:27 > 0:44:31With no support, they will be left in adult daycare centres or worse.

0:44:31 > 0:44:36Too often, local authority support is either entirely absent or limited

0:44:36 > 0:44:47and patchy. It increases the chance of economic participation when that

0:44:47 > 0:44:51child reaches adult hood and reduces the need for adult services later in

0:44:51 > 0:44:56life. We also need steady improvements to the transport

0:44:56 > 0:45:00system. The less daunting it is to leave home, the more disabled people

0:45:00 > 0:45:06will be able to participate in the economy by working and spending. I

0:45:06 > 0:45:13support several campaigns. I would be appreciative if the Minister

0:45:13 > 0:45:30could apply pressure on the Mayor of London to improve facilities.

0:45:30 > 0:45:34Finally, with the advent of new assistive technologies, there is

0:45:34 > 0:45:39greater scope than ever before for disabled people to contribute to

0:45:39 > 0:45:46growth. As the financial Times suggested in a recent article, 1

0:45:46 > 0:45:49billion people across the world have some form of disability. As people

0:45:49 > 0:45:54live longer, often with conditions that reduce their ability to use

0:45:54 > 0:45:58their hands or coordinate, the market will grow sharply, meaning

0:45:58 > 0:46:09that accessibility is important.

0:46:12 > 0:46:14Technology will be vital not just in terms of quality-of-life but in

0:46:14 > 0:46:17making it easier for disabled people to participate fully in the

0:46:17 > 0:46:25workforce. Disability sport has in recent years been critical of

0:46:25 > 0:46:29changing perceptions of people with disabilities. I hope that

0:46:29 > 0:46:45technological advances could help but Judge -- help that trajectory.

0:46:45 > 0:46:48I should be most grateful to the Minister if she could update the

0:46:48 > 0:46:54House on how the Government is promoting accessibility, and would

0:46:54 > 0:47:04also appreciate her views on early investment and transport.I would

0:47:04 > 0:47:18like to pay tribute to my honourable friend, the chair. It is an issue on

0:47:18 > 0:47:23and off that I've been working in for over 20 years. So it's quite

0:47:23 > 0:47:28interesting to see that, despite all the efforts that many people have

0:47:28 > 0:47:33made over the years, we have just under 4 million people with

0:47:33 > 0:47:38disabilities that are called economically inactive, which means

0:47:38 > 0:47:44they are of a working age to be implied but are not. -- to be

0:47:44 > 0:47:52employed. I have been working with people to support John Major in

0:47:52 > 0:48:01getting the DDA, which is a game changer. This meant there was a

0:48:01 > 0:48:05regulatory framework, meaning you could not discriminate against

0:48:05 > 0:48:09disabled people in goods and services educate not discriminate

0:48:09 > 0:48:18against people in employment. The reason that was a game changer as

0:48:18 > 0:48:26often discrimination is tacit and nuanced. It could be the poor you

0:48:26 > 0:48:36model, you poor, brave disabled person. We don't mean to do that, it

0:48:36 > 0:48:41is part of human nature, a lack of understanding. It can be difficult

0:48:41 > 0:48:45to break through. It still can be, sadly, although I do believe there

0:48:45 > 0:48:51has been some progress over the years. One area of the DDA that

0:48:51 > 0:48:56worked well this on goods and services. The reason for that is if

0:48:56 > 0:49:04I'm in arrest and and I don't put a ramp outside -- if I own a

0:49:04 > 0:49:08restaurant, and I don't put a wrap outside and someone with a

0:49:08 > 0:49:19wheelchair cannot get in, they can sue me. Often when you make

0:49:19 > 0:49:21something accessible, you make more than enough money to pay for the

0:49:21 > 0:49:29cost of the access ability. It is harder with employment. Particularly

0:49:29 > 0:49:33if you are disabled and you are applying for a job. If you are

0:49:33 > 0:49:39someone who works for a company and acquire a disability, the DDA and

0:49:39 > 0:49:46also the broader knowledge now, I think, means that businesses, either

0:49:46 > 0:49:49in the public or private sector, are likely to make the necessary effort

0:49:49 > 0:49:58to keep you in the job. What is harder is if you have a disability

0:49:58 > 0:50:03is to get over the threshold to get that job. That is a difficult one.

0:50:03 > 0:50:07It is something that I struggled with many years ago, with some very

0:50:07 > 0:50:23good disability consultants who have done so much over the years. The

0:50:23 > 0:50:29four of us work for many years in this area with the employers Forum

0:50:29 > 0:50:35on disability and others to try to break through. It was difficult. It

0:50:35 > 0:50:40is interesting since I've lost the election, been away at a comeback,

0:50:40 > 0:50:55and again the committee is going great guns. To be honest, Mr Deputy

0:50:55 > 0:50:59Speaker, I still feel a little bit downhearted. It is not my nature.

0:50:59 > 0:51:03Anyone who is liberal and downhearted is in the wrong party,

0:51:03 > 0:51:15they are in the wrong party. You have to be an optimist was. It can

0:51:15 > 0:51:23be a game changer. One of the utility companies, one of the big

0:51:23 > 0:51:32ones, had a call centre in north London. I'm sure the members of the

0:51:32 > 0:51:37House no that they turn over you have in call centres is very high

0:51:37 > 0:51:42because it is a difficult job. With a number of others, I worked with

0:51:42 > 0:51:48this utility to persuade them to take on 15 people with disabilities

0:51:48 > 0:52:03as call centre agents. It was hard work, but to give them that you

0:52:04 > 0:52:10, they did their best. People often just left the carpet and sweep

0:52:10 > 0:52:16people with disabilities under the carpet. That is something that I

0:52:16 > 0:52:23found very frustrating and it made me very angry. With this call

0:52:23 > 0:52:28centre, they did finally agree, and we found the right number of

0:52:28 > 0:52:37disabled staff to be interviewed, 15 or so were hired. What I can tell

0:52:37 > 0:52:43you is that, a year later, 14 of them were still there. Two years

0:52:43 > 0:52:48later, there were still 14 of them. One of the fundamental advantages of

0:52:48 > 0:52:53hiring disabled staff, in my view, is that they will actually offer me

0:52:53 > 0:53:01more reliable work than non-disabled people. It makes the business case

0:53:01 > 0:53:06for hiring disabled people very strong. They will need some

0:53:06 > 0:53:13guidance, some support, not least because their disability, take my

0:53:13 > 0:53:20own disability of hearing loss, I need a hearing loop. It is a matter

0:53:20 > 0:53:28of providing the right facilities for that disabled person so they can

0:53:28 > 0:53:37shine. The bigger issue is the quiet discrimination of either they're not

0:53:37 > 0:53:45being capable or, you don't have to deal the situation, and those things

0:53:45 > 0:53:52are difficult to change. So where are we at? The report on improving

0:53:52 > 0:53:57lives is important because it highlighted some of the figures. 3.7

0:53:57 > 0:54:00million economically inactive, as I mentioned. Another figure was that

0:54:00 > 0:54:08if you take out 1% of ESA, of disabled people not receiving ESA

0:54:08 > 0:54:14because they have gained employment, it would save the Exchequer 250

0:54:14 > 0:54:20million and boost the economy by a further 260 million. So half £8

0:54:20 > 0:54:28billion. That seems important for making that bit of extra help to get

0:54:28 > 0:54:35people into jobs. -- half a billion pounds. I have already mentioned the

0:54:35 > 0:54:38disability challenges, but if you have been out of work for many years

0:54:38 > 0:54:43it is hard to get back into work. With the right levels of support, it

0:54:43 > 0:54:48is transformational for those individuals and their families. A

0:54:48 > 0:54:54recent report by Joseph Rowntree found that half of households in

0:54:54 > 0:54:58poverty have at least one disabled member of the House. It is one of

0:54:58 > 0:55:06the reasons why we know that getting people into jobs and out of the

0:55:06 > 0:55:19cycle of poverty is the key reason we're here. Is not just enough to

0:55:19 > 0:55:23say we need things. I have been here four years. Well-meaning isn't

0:55:23 > 0:55:33enough. It needs regulation. The DDA, the of conservative Prime

0:55:33 > 0:55:43Minister John Major introduced ... I'm tremendously grateful for what

0:55:43 > 0:55:51he did. It allowed for change. When you have emotional attitudes, you

0:55:51 > 0:55:54often don't realise that you could be wrong or you could be

0:55:54 > 0:56:01discriminating. That is why there are certain times, even as a

0:56:01 > 0:56:10liberal, you need to bring in legislation. DDA is one, seat belt

0:56:10 > 0:56:14is another. I have been here long enough to remember the uproar around

0:56:14 > 0:56:17seat belts. You had to wear a seat belt, if not you got busted by the

0:56:17 > 0:56:24law was up since then, the number of people dying from car accidents has

0:56:24 > 0:56:33plummeted. It is the same with disability. What we need more with

0:56:33 > 0:56:47the DDA, I believe is the need to be greater incentives for people to

0:56:47 > 0:56:50recruit disabled people. You need to be as perceptive as this to break

0:56:50 > 0:56:55this logjam. I think the need for it is more than ever because, with

0:56:55 > 0:56:59Brexit, whatever side of the divide we sit on, we know that there will

0:56:59 > 0:57:07be substantial people's shortages in employment in the coming years. A

0:57:07 > 0:57:14recent report identified that Tier two occupations, there would be 32

0:57:14 > 0:57:28areas of Shoreditch of staff. -- of of shortage staff.

0:57:31 > 0:57:39I think this government's decision to change the work-related component

0:57:39 > 0:57:43of ESA to mean that they would receive a lot less money than they

0:57:43 > 0:57:48had earlier is a really foolish and short-sighted decision. There are

0:57:48 > 0:57:52three areas of ESA, the support group which means you have a

0:57:52 > 0:57:58disability that is such that you cannot work, and then their risk

0:57:58 > 0:58:06basic ESA at the front end and in the middle there was something which

0:58:06 > 0:58:10recognised a disability that Pete extra money above and beyond the

0:58:10 > 0:58:13normal jobseeker's allowance because it saw that your disability meant

0:58:13 > 0:58:19that you faced further costs. It also recognised you are ready to

0:58:19 > 0:58:26work with support. You got people into that frame of mind where they

0:58:26 > 0:58:36were ready to take a risk, to leave the structure of support ESA. Then,

0:58:36 > 0:58:41after the coalition and the Liberals were given a straight edge, George

0:58:41 > 0:58:59Osborne quickly cut it. It was cut by 30%. -- the Liberals were given a

0:59:03 > 0:59:11defenestrated. If I did go for a job, never underestimate how strong

0:59:11 > 0:59:15fear is in those situations. With edible encouragement, I will step

0:59:15 > 0:59:22into the component, and a properly tell me I am having my salary cut by

0:59:22 > 0:59:2630%. I will do whatever it takes to stay in the support group because

0:59:26 > 0:59:33that is human nature. It is not rocket science, it is what you would

0:59:33 > 0:59:37do. It is what I would do, even someone as intrepid as you would do

0:59:37 > 0:59:44that, Mr Speaker. Because you can be sure you have the money for the roof

0:59:44 > 0:59:50over your head and your children. It was a foolish idea, and I'm bitterly

0:59:50 > 0:59:54disappointed the Government did it. Clearly, not surprisingly, and I

0:59:54 > 1:00:03know from my own constituency mailbag, I have people try to get

1:00:03 > 1:00:09back into the support group. I support them.

1:00:09 > 1:00:13I would like the disabilities minister to address that and perhaps

1:00:13 > 1:00:18take that to the Chancellor that it was a bad idea and we can change it.

1:00:18 > 1:00:26Finally, where are we act? Again, I'm very grateful for the honourable

1:00:26 > 1:00:33member for East Kilbride bring this debate. It's important. It affects

1:00:33 > 1:00:36hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people across the country.

1:00:36 > 1:00:40There's not an MP in this House who will not have hundreds if not

1:00:40 > 1:00:45thousands of disabled people in their constituency. It is so

1:00:45 > 1:00:49important. We know in this room, in this chamber from our own casework

1:00:49 > 1:00:52levels just how many people with disabilities come and for help and

1:00:52 > 1:01:01support. I would just love to see this Government or a Government step

1:01:01 > 1:01:09up and just do a DDA part to around employment that absolutely said

1:01:09 > 1:01:11businesses, private and public sector, organisations, charities

1:01:11 > 1:01:22have to do so and employ ex-member of disabled people, to at least show

1:01:22 > 1:01:27because I don't want it to be tokenistic, people are disabilities

1:01:27 > 1:01:30have tremendous skills about opportunity, so maybe it would be

1:01:30 > 1:01:37pleased to show you have systems and processes that you have interviewed

1:01:37 > 1:01:42a record number of people for every job with disabilities. I know if

1:01:42 > 1:01:49that happens, it will transform I think the employment opportunities

1:01:49 > 1:01:53for disabled people, it will transform many, many millions of

1:01:53 > 1:02:01families because of the poverty are a lot of people live in, where one

1:02:01 > 1:02:05or both parents are disabled, it be a game changer that this nation

1:02:05 > 1:02:09deserves and with Brexit coming up, it could be possibly something

1:02:09 > 1:02:14positive to come out from Brexit. Many thanks, Mr Deputy Speaker.

1:02:14 > 1:02:21Thank you very much.I thank the honourable lady for East Kilbride

1:02:21 > 1:02:27for bringing this backbench debate to the size. I'd also like to pay

1:02:27 > 1:02:31tribute to my honourable friend the Member for Hornchurch and Upminster

1:02:31 > 1:02:40who was an actual friend as well, and she made a very powerful speech

1:02:40 > 1:02:45and she definitely still at least half of the things I was going to

1:02:45 > 1:02:53say. People often ask why do to go into politics? I'm sure we all get

1:02:53 > 1:02:58asked that and we all have many reasons for going into politics, not

1:02:58 > 1:03:03just one, but, for me, the most important reason why I am in

1:03:03 > 1:03:10politics is to enable everybody to use their God-given talents whatever

1:03:10 > 1:03:16they are in as best they way as they can and contribute both for

1:03:16 > 1:03:19themselves, their family, society and the country and that is why I am

1:03:19 > 1:03:22in politics and people with disabilities are fully included

1:03:22 > 1:03:28within that and that is why I think this debate and this subject is of

1:03:28 > 1:03:36critical importance. Now, there will be those who say that many

1:03:36 > 1:03:40disability benefits should be more generous and in some ways they

1:03:40 > 1:03:47probably should be. And I'm sure that the Minister, because I know

1:03:47 > 1:03:51her to strongly believe in this brief, and the Treasury ministers

1:03:51 > 1:03:54will always do what they can to make up sure appropriate resources are

1:03:54 > 1:04:02there to help those who need them. But let's not kid ourselves. What is

1:04:02 > 1:04:08really important, and the subject of this debate is economic growth but

1:04:08 > 1:04:12it's actually important for people's well-being, for their lives, is the

1:04:12 > 1:04:15opportunity to make the most of themselves in a professional work

1:04:15 > 1:04:21career capacity, that is critically important, and so, yes, benefits are

1:04:21 > 1:04:24critically important but we all silly to do everything we can to get

1:04:24 > 1:04:31everybody who has a disability into appropriate work where possible. --

1:04:31 > 1:04:34absolutely everything. That is what I regard to be the heart of social

1:04:34 > 1:04:40mobility. Now we often talk about social mobility in this House, in

1:04:40 > 1:04:46many different ways, in education debates, higher education, in the

1:04:46 > 1:04:50Treasury, business departments, all over the place, and usually the way

1:04:50 > 1:04:55we talk about social mobility as we say there's an individual who has

1:04:55 > 1:04:59usually come from a very poor background and they've overcome the

1:04:59 > 1:05:02odds, achieved something fantastic and got to the top of a profession

1:05:02 > 1:05:06and we should celebrate that. It is what Britain is about but actually,

1:05:06 > 1:05:10in my view, social mobility is really more fundamental. It is about

1:05:10 > 1:05:17ensuring that society uses the skills and innate talents of those

1:05:17 > 1:05:24who both, with and without disabilities, to their fullest, that

1:05:24 > 1:05:29is true social mobility, so that everybody has the ability to use

1:05:29 > 1:05:36their God-given talents and make the most of their lives. So where are we

1:05:36 > 1:05:39now for policy perspective, governmental perspective? The

1:05:39 > 1:05:43Conservative Party manifesto 2017, I did read it, and that's a good thing

1:05:43 > 1:05:49as a new candidate, I read a very, very carefully, it stated, "One

1:05:49 > 1:05:52million more people with disabilities should be into

1:05:52 > 1:05:58employment in the next ten years." Now, by my calculation is, we need

1:05:58 > 1:06:05to grow numbers, because people are disabilities have fallen to 4.5

1:06:05 > 1:06:10million people, over the next ten years, in order to achieve that

1:06:10 > 1:06:14target, it would mean a growth of almost 30% on current levels, and I

1:06:14 > 1:06:19think we would all agree on this has that is a big task and something

1:06:19 > 1:06:24that the Government and this party is very focused on and in fact I

1:06:24 > 1:06:29suspect from across the House we will find agreement on that. What

1:06:29 > 1:06:34does the Government aimed to do? In November 2017, the Government set

1:06:34 > 1:06:37out a 10-year plan to improve the situation and to deliver on this

1:06:37 > 1:06:41manifesto pledge and I'm sure the Minister will elucidate on this plan

1:06:41 > 1:06:47further and whether Government is with it, but, in essence, it is, on

1:06:47 > 1:06:53reading it, it appeared that the main thrust of it appeared to be

1:06:53 > 1:06:58linking up the welfare system, the workplace and health care and in

1:06:58 > 1:07:01particular, and this has already been alluded to in this debate,

1:07:01 > 1:07:04bringing in new technologies, especially assistive technologies to

1:07:04 > 1:07:12really help turbo-charge this growth that we have been gradually seeing

1:07:12 > 1:07:18so people with disabilities can enter the workplace. Now, a 5% rise

1:07:18 > 1:07:23in employment among people with disabilities would bring an increase

1:07:23 > 1:07:26in GDP of £23 billion with tax revenues up somewhere in the region

1:07:26 > 1:07:33of 5-6 billion pounds, a considerable number. Research by

1:07:33 > 1:07:37Scope, the disabled charity, is found 58% of disabled people however

1:07:37 > 1:07:41have felt at risk of losing their job because of their impairment or

1:07:41 > 1:07:47condition. And it is quite clear to me and clear to most if not all

1:07:47 > 1:07:51members of this House that we need to work much more closely and

1:07:51 > 1:07:58intensively with employers in order to drive change. Now several decades

1:07:58 > 1:08:02ago, there were many employers who did not like to employ women. And

1:08:02 > 1:08:09what happened, over time, this House, working with employers and

1:08:09 > 1:08:13through legislation, helped drive change. A few decades ago, there

1:08:13 > 1:08:20were several employers who didn't like taking on, a time where people

1:08:20 > 1:08:25did not look like me in this place all the other place, or the lady

1:08:25 > 1:08:30opposite, and they did not like to employ people of ethnic minorities,

1:08:30 > 1:08:33and what happened, this House with the legislation and working closely

1:08:33 > 1:08:39with employers, helped drive change. Now the time has come for those with

1:08:39 > 1:08:43disabilities to get much better access to employment opportunities.

1:08:43 > 1:08:47And the Government needs to work with employers, along with a

1:08:47 > 1:08:52legislation already in place, to help drive change. No disability

1:08:52 > 1:09:00confident as a good scheme and I think that it is welcome across the

1:09:00 > 1:09:04business community and Government and civil society, but I believe we

1:09:04 > 1:09:10can go further and the Government should bear in mind the huge gains,

1:09:10 > 1:09:14not just economic gains, but the huge games and life chances and

1:09:14 > 1:09:20economic potential of this huge group of people. In my view, there

1:09:20 > 1:09:26are two main things that we need to go further to do, in order to help

1:09:26 > 1:09:32drive this change, drive this turbo-charge. The first is to

1:09:32 > 1:09:38financially incentivise perhaps through the tax system or in another

1:09:38 > 1:09:42way employers to take on more people with disabilities, especially in

1:09:42 > 1:09:46industries where typically today they may not be found. But, in

1:09:46 > 1:09:50conjunction with that, and this is the critical bit, the way that that

1:09:50 > 1:09:53will happen appropriately and this is what businesses tell me when I

1:09:53 > 1:09:59have this discussion with them, is that we need to be able to have a

1:09:59 > 1:10:01much better understanding of the different capabilities of different

1:10:01 > 1:10:06people with disabilities, so that we can make sure you match the right

1:10:06 > 1:10:10employment opportunities with the right people and if we do that

1:10:10 > 1:10:13properly, combined with proper incentives for business, I think we

1:10:13 > 1:10:19can really see a huge increase in this area. Wants more people with

1:10:19 > 1:10:24disabilities I believe getting to the workplace, and not just get into

1:10:24 > 1:10:27it, but progress within their workplace, get promoted, get to the

1:10:27 > 1:10:32top of their businesses, they will show what they can do. They will

1:10:32 > 1:10:35show you what they can contribute and this will send a powerful

1:10:35 > 1:10:41message not just to them or Society or this House, but to the country as

1:10:41 > 1:10:56a whole, but...Jayme Stone.Thank you very much for them, I

1:10:56 > 1:10:58congratulate the honourable member for East Kilbride in placing this

1:10:58 > 1:11:02debate before us? It an extraordinarily important subject

1:11:02 > 1:11:08and it is perhaps a shame this not more members here today but we have

1:11:08 > 1:11:13some of the best groups in the chamber. As Miss Jean Brodie

1:11:13 > 1:11:17would've said, we can consider ourselves the creme de la creme. I

1:11:17 > 1:11:21have a personal interest in this matter, which I will make note of

1:11:21 > 1:11:29the House, because my wife is disabled. She has been disabled

1:11:29 > 1:11:32since 1999 and therefore has featured largely in our lives and as

1:11:32 > 1:11:44a members may be aware, I was a member in Scotland. I quickly

1:11:44 > 1:11:49realised the temporary Scottish Parliament, it was completed

1:11:49 > 1:11:55unsuitable for anyone who was disabled and I volunteered to go on

1:11:55 > 1:11:59the small committees and was given the responsibility building the new

1:11:59 > 1:12:04building and we put in place complete disabled access including

1:12:04 > 1:12:08in the chamber of Holyrood itself. I might say that that job at that time

1:12:08 > 1:12:14very nearly cost me my seat such as the controversy attached to the

1:12:14 > 1:12:17Scottish Parliament. That was then and this is now on I must say for

1:12:17 > 1:12:20the record I'm proud to be involved in building such a disabled friendly

1:12:20 > 1:12:27place. The Member for East Kilbride talked about examples and that seems

1:12:27 > 1:12:33to me to be ultra important. Just two points, the first being that in

1:12:33 > 1:12:41the summer of this year, one of the northernmost Highland games, the

1:12:41 > 1:12:47Prince of Wales who will attend in the summer, and for the first time,

1:12:47 > 1:12:50disabled servicemen are going to take part in the event at the May

1:12:50 > 1:12:55games, a historic first for the Highland games, in Scotland, and

1:12:55 > 1:13:00certainly for the far North. And the other example that will stay with me

1:13:00 > 1:13:09to my dying day was a former member of this place, Dame Anne Begg, who

1:13:09 > 1:13:13graced the Labour benches for number of years here. I knew her because

1:13:13 > 1:13:18she was involved in a cross-party group of oil and gas and I was in

1:13:18 > 1:13:21the Scottish Parliament and she was here in Westminster, and I will

1:13:21 > 1:13:28never ever forget going to visit an oil installation in a field in

1:13:28 > 1:13:33Norway, and we were in a semi open boat with a noisy diesel engine and

1:13:33 > 1:13:41there was an in their wheelchair. The weather can change in the

1:13:41 > 1:13:44Atlantic, and a storm came. The boat was going backwards and forwards and

1:13:44 > 1:13:52we had to attach her wheelchair to prevent it going overboard but such

1:13:52 > 1:13:56was their courage and good humour that she never blinked once and I

1:13:56 > 1:14:00think that was example of someone with disability facing adversity in

1:14:00 > 1:14:04life and she got on with it and I will never forget that as an example

1:14:04 > 1:14:11of somebody I thought was very, very, very brave indeed.

1:14:11 > 1:14:15The ambition based on these examples is there. Particularly I pay tribute

1:14:15 > 1:14:20to the honourable member for Hitchin and Hutton for bringing that point

1:14:20 > 1:14:28up. It is hugely important. Today, my wife volunteers for the local

1:14:28 > 1:14:32museum in my hometown, and she is up in raising money for Marie Curie.

1:14:32 > 1:14:39The point of this is that these underpaid involvements enrich her

1:14:39 > 1:14:45life. It makes everything much more worthwhile. If you can broaden that

1:14:45 > 1:14:52out into employment, you can see the great gift it would give. The points

1:14:52 > 1:14:57that have been made about taxation at benefits are absolutely right. I

1:14:57 > 1:15:09was intrigued yesterday. I have an Irish son-in-law who came by

1:15:09 > 1:15:14Westminster in search of a smaller freshman, and he asked me what I

1:15:14 > 1:15:19would be talking about today. I said it would be about this particular

1:15:19 > 1:15:24issue, about disability and using resources. He struck thing by saying

1:15:24 > 1:15:28that he is involved in the textile business in the Republic of Ireland.

1:15:28 > 1:15:35There is a government incentive scheme to encourage the implement of

1:15:35 > 1:15:39people in this situation. We could learn something from the Republic on

1:15:39 > 1:15:53that. The point has been made that we are mugs if we don't utilise the

1:15:53 > 1:15:58skills and abilities and ambition and enthusiasm that is out there.

1:15:58 > 1:16:01Goodness knows, during the next few years, we will have to mobilise

1:16:01 > 1:16:05everything we have got in the UK because it is an ever more difficult

1:16:05 > 1:16:11and competitive world. That is the reality is we have to use every

1:16:11 > 1:16:17single person we have got, and they will relish the opportunity. I have

1:16:17 > 1:16:21absolutely no doubt whatsoever. I look forward with great interest to

1:16:21 > 1:16:27see what the Minister has to say. We are as one in this chamber. I guess

1:16:27 > 1:16:38as a not so new member, 7.5 months, I'm sure this is one thing that

1:16:38 > 1:16:43Westminster does best, to get on to issues like this. I'm astonished it

1:16:43 > 1:16:53hasn't been debated before. Never mind, here we are today. I believe

1:16:53 > 1:16:57it is as simple as this. There is a bargain to be struck here. I think

1:16:57 > 1:17:02that disabled people are offering their half of the bargain, and I

1:17:02 > 1:17:09think it is up to the Government and all of us in society in the UK to

1:17:09 > 1:17:15grasp the hand and on how half of the bargain and make their lives

1:17:15 > 1:17:22better. Thank you.I would like to start by bringing my congratulations

1:17:22 > 1:17:27to the member for East Kilbride on this important debate today. I'm

1:17:27 > 1:17:30delighted to speak in today's debate on the role of disabled people in

1:17:30 > 1:17:39economic growth. Economic growth is built on development and progress.

1:17:39 > 1:17:43But also on people, the essential building block. People who are

1:17:43 > 1:17:51manual workers, managers, entrepreneurs, females and males,

1:17:51 > 1:18:00all ethnicities and able-bodied and disabled people. Disabled people

1:18:00 > 1:18:07play an important role in economic growth. The wording is a little too

1:18:07 > 1:18:13crude. It is not enough for disabled people to be in jobs to boost

1:18:13 > 1:18:16growth, but they deserve the same career opportunities. It is not a

1:18:16 > 1:18:23question of economics but also one of equality. Only half of working

1:18:23 > 1:18:25age people in the UK who are disabled or have a health condition

1:18:25 > 1:18:33or in work. The work rate for people without disabilities is 80.6%. We

1:18:33 > 1:18:42must rectified this inequality. We must hire those who have overcome

1:18:42 > 1:18:45obstacles. We must empower and assist the disabled so they have the

1:18:45 > 1:18:51confidence and the tools to work in an even playing field. That is why I

1:18:51 > 1:18:57fully back the commitment and strategy to getting 1 million more

1:18:57 > 1:19:00disabled people into employment by 2027. I'm delighted that 100,000

1:19:00 > 1:19:06more people disabilities were in work last year compared to 2016.

1:19:06 > 1:19:11Working with employers is key to reaching this target, which is why

1:19:11 > 1:19:20the Government has pledged to work with industry. Disabled people have

1:19:20 > 1:19:28overcome adversity and can offer workplaces skills such as

1:19:28 > 1:19:32determination, they generally stay in workplaces for longer and have

1:19:32 > 1:19:35lower rates of absenteeism. But only one half of employers have reported

1:19:35 > 1:19:41that they recognise the benefits of employing someone with a disability

1:19:41 > 1:19:46or health condition for their organisation. It's about changing

1:19:46 > 1:19:48attitudes and cultures, especially in certain sectors. For example, the

1:19:48 > 1:19:54rate of disabled people in engineering and science and

1:19:54 > 1:20:01technology is very low. The problem is twofold, you have to encourage

1:20:01 > 1:20:06disabled people to believe that they can do these roles, and also

1:20:06 > 1:20:11ensuring that the jobs exist. The disability confidence scheme has

1:20:11 > 1:20:14done great work in this area. Helping organisations to improve how

1:20:14 > 1:20:20they attract, recruit and retain disabled workers. As of the 16th of

1:20:20 > 1:20:26November last year, there were 5359 employers signed up to the scheme.

1:20:26 > 1:20:37We need to do work to make sure more take part. One of the biggest

1:20:37 > 1:20:46hurdles is the adaptations that are needed to the employer's offices.

1:20:46 > 1:20:52There is also a lack of awareness that the 2010 equalities act mean

1:20:52 > 1:20:55that employers are based attitude duty to make reasonable adjustments.

1:20:55 > 1:21:02I'm keen to hear from the minister about how he plans to challenge this

1:21:02 > 1:21:08lack of awareness. Adapting workplaces is also important when a

1:21:08 > 1:21:22staff member becomes disabled. The disability employment gap is partly

1:21:22 > 1:21:26driven by disabled people who have fallen out of employment. One in ten

1:21:26 > 1:21:30disabled people falling out of work each year, convert to one in 20 in

1:21:30 > 1:21:36the non-disabled work population. Retention is key. That is why I

1:21:36 > 1:21:40welcome the proposed sophistication of the scheme to enable employers to

1:21:40 > 1:21:45better understand and support their employees' needs. It is important to

1:21:45 > 1:21:48note that their access for work grants that can pay for special

1:21:48 > 1:21:55equipment adaptations or support worker services. I'm delighted that

1:21:55 > 1:21:58it is being rolled out to the self-employed. We need to raise

1:21:58 > 1:22:03awareness of these. Out of work grants have been taken up by 25,000

1:22:03 > 1:22:09people on average per year. These figures have stagnated for the last

1:22:09 > 1:22:11three gears, indicating we really need to promote awareness. In

1:22:11 > 1:22:23addition, we really need to reach a younger age group. I have spoken a

1:22:23 > 1:22:30lot about employers but it is also important to encourage individuals

1:22:30 > 1:22:37to apply for jobs. Physically disabled people are also in need of

1:22:37 > 1:22:42emotional and mental health support when re-entering the workplace, and

1:22:42 > 1:22:44it is important not to forget the physical this abilities and mental

1:22:44 > 1:22:51health challenges are not mutually exclusive.

1:22:51 > 1:22:57Ritchie agree with me that way you have a disabled person who is in

1:22:57 > 1:23:00rewarding employment, that that person could perhaps take some time

1:23:00 > 1:23:13be encouraged to act as a mental

1:23:13 > 1:23:19-- encouraged to act as a mentor. Being role models for other people

1:23:19 > 1:23:24and acting as mentors is a wonderful initiative we should be doing to

1:23:24 > 1:23:28encourage more people to have the self belief and determination to

1:23:28 > 1:23:34progress their dreams and explore opportunities. We should not just

1:23:34 > 1:23:42treat physical this abilities and mental disabilities in silos, we

1:23:42 > 1:23:45need to treat them together for the best outcomes. I'm delighted that

1:23:45 > 1:23:52the key outcomes for the white paper includes this area. The roll-out of

1:23:52 > 1:23:58personal support packages includes the recruitment of 200 community

1:23:58 > 1:24:01partners, 300 disability employment advisers, 100 small employers

1:24:01 > 1:24:08advisers and an extra 1000 mental health and support bases. In

1:24:08 > 1:24:12conclusion, over the last two gears, the disability employment gap has

1:24:12 > 1:24:24reduced by 1.9%, so we are on the right track was top we could save

1:24:24 > 1:24:27240 million and provide a boost to the economy is 206 the million.

1:24:27 > 1:24:33Getting more disability into jobs is essential. It would be of great

1:24:33 > 1:24:37financial benefit to our country, but I actually think the main

1:24:37 > 1:24:41benefit will be to the disabled people themselves. In turn, making

1:24:41 > 1:24:45our society more equal. I shall end what I began and stressed that it is

1:24:45 > 1:24:52not just an issue of economics but also one of equality.

1:24:52 > 1:24:59First of all, it is always a pleasure to follow the honourable

1:24:59 > 1:25:16lady and I thank her for her aunt ablution. -- for her contribution.

1:25:16 > 1:25:20She is clearly a champion for those with disabilities, and I'm pleased

1:25:20 > 1:25:28to be a part of the group that she chairs. Yesterday, I was able to

1:25:28 > 1:25:31participate in some of those things that the honourable lady put forward

1:25:31 > 1:25:35and give a Northern Ireland perspective to it. I will probably

1:25:35 > 1:25:45do that today as well. Also nice to see the Minister in her place. As an

1:25:45 > 1:25:51expression of her interest in this subject, we had the disability

1:25:51 > 1:25:56confident event that the Minister organise. It was good to go along

1:25:56 > 1:26:00and support what she is doing, but also to have a greater knowledge.

1:26:00 > 1:26:07One thing about being an MP is you learn every day if you want to. I

1:26:07 > 1:26:13want to extend my knowledge of those things. It was an opportunity to do

1:26:13 > 1:26:22that yesterday. I could expect to them what we were doing. A number of

1:26:22 > 1:26:28things in my constituency in relation to what we are doing, what

1:26:28 > 1:26:35private businesses are doing. The Shadow Minister and her

1:26:35 > 1:26:43contribution. I look forward to her contribution. I stand in the shape

1:26:43 > 1:26:50to speak out for many people in our communities stop the get that

1:26:50 > 1:26:57knowledge from our everyday interactions in our communities.

1:26:57 > 1:27:15Over 7 million people of working age are disabled or ... I would hope

1:27:15 > 1:27:18that they would have an opportunity to see how they can achieve that

1:27:18 > 1:27:29goal. Some disabled cannot work, that is a fact of life which has to

1:27:29 > 1:27:34be accepted. Those who want to work, which we are trying to make happen

1:27:34 > 1:27:47through this debate. The employment rate for people with disabilities

1:27:47 > 1:27:58was higher in 2017 than 2016. There is quite clearly a strategy that is

1:27:58 > 1:28:01trying to address the issue, because there are more people with

1:28:01 > 1:28:07disabilities in employment and were a year ago. That has got to be a

1:28:07 > 1:28:24good news. When you see the chart at the library provided, they provide

1:28:24 > 1:28:27some excellent information for us when it comes to preparing for these

1:28:27 > 1:28:33debates, and gives us his chance to do things well. I read the action

1:28:33 > 1:28:37report hard at work, which was interesting reading, as opposed to

1:28:37 > 1:28:40just citing their work 33% of disabled people in work in Northern

1:28:40 > 1:28:45Ireland, but asked the question why. I will ask that today. I am

1:28:45 > 1:28:51conscious that the Minister as there was possible to four Northern

1:28:51 > 1:28:57Ireland, and I respect that. To give the detail to the debate and the

1:28:57 > 1:29:02Northern Ireland perspective of it. Some of the things that are done in

1:29:02 > 1:29:10Northern Ireland can be done here on the mainland as well. The overall

1:29:10 > 1:29:19employment rate is 5% lower and for some groups it is much wider. 33% of

1:29:19 > 1:29:24disabled people are in employment, less than half the rate of

1:29:24 > 1:29:37non-disabled people. Many applicants did not feel Constable about

1:29:37 > 1:29:41disclosing their disability. I think that is something we have do

1:29:41 > 1:29:50address.

1:29:50 > 1:29:53We are well aware of the story in the press yesterday, slightly

1:29:53 > 1:29:55different from what we are doing today, but when people are to

1:29:55 > 1:30:01disclose, are you pregnant or having a child, I think it's the wrong

1:30:01 > 1:30:05question to ask anybody when they go for employment. The same thing could

1:30:05 > 1:30:09apply for those with disability. By not telling them you are disabled

1:30:09 > 1:30:13you have a better chance of getting a job but if you do tell them you

1:30:13 > 1:30:17are disabled, is they can be a box marked that they are not the right

1:30:17 > 1:30:24people? Employers often did not feel confident about being open with

1:30:24 > 1:30:28their disability. Even when they do get employment, if there's a

1:30:28 > 1:30:38problem, they tend to keep it to themselves. 50% of people feel they

1:30:38 > 1:30:41face discolouration in employment and less than half of the

1:30:41 > 1:30:46respondents to eight survey said this. If people feel disseminated

1:30:46 > 1:30:51against, or they are afraid to ask for reasonable adjustments, I think

1:30:51 > 1:30:55maybe there is a big role for business to carry out. The reasons

1:30:55 > 1:31:01for not asking where not wanting to draw attention to their disability

1:31:01 > 1:31:05or because it would be embarrassing to do so. Nearly a third said they

1:31:05 > 1:31:10received little or no help following their request. Perhaps it underlines

1:31:10 > 1:31:15the other issue, when you ask for it, you're not sure it will be done.

1:31:15 > 1:31:20They need to look about as and maybe sometimes you have to enforce it

1:31:20 > 1:31:24through legislation and through Government intervention. Little

1:31:24 > 1:31:27wonder many people with so much to offer feel like they are a burden in

1:31:27 > 1:31:36the workplace and that is a concern people have referred to so far.

1:31:36 > 1:31:40Concerns among employers in relation to employing disabled people could

1:31:40 > 1:31:49be a risk to productivity, financial indications, confusion and negative

1:31:49 > 1:31:53perceptions and maybe the blade beware of what legislation means for

1:31:53 > 1:32:00them in business as well. Despite the sea financial indications, a

1:32:00 > 1:32:05survey of over 1000 employers said the majority provided adjustments.

1:32:05 > 1:32:10The majority tried to the right things to flexible working patterns.

1:32:10 > 1:32:23I'm not sure but is there financial incentives available for businesses

1:32:23 > 1:32:27to do those changes, because I think sometimes, because of the cost, his

1:32:27 > 1:32:31Mrs are concerned about that and if there was any help to make those

1:32:31 > 1:32:37adjustments happen, I think that would be helpful. The recent survey

1:32:37 > 1:32:41said the option of modified hours with part-time working would be an

1:32:41 > 1:32:48important factor in enabling them to stay in work. Over the years, I've

1:32:48 > 1:33:00had the opportunity to the DLA, those people who have therapeutic

1:33:00 > 1:33:07work, sometimes people are not fully able to carry out the duties because

1:33:07 > 1:33:10of their disablement, but therapeutically, it's good for them

1:33:10 > 1:33:16to have some type of work for a certain period of time. Maybe we

1:33:16 > 1:33:27could have some thoughts upon where that features? The problems may be

1:33:27 > 1:33:35the civil service has and what we need to do as an example, but

1:33:35 > 1:33:37disabled people in the public sector reported being passed over for

1:33:37 > 1:33:41development and promotion opportunities and being unfairly

1:33:41 > 1:33:43assessed in terms of their performance, suggesting talent is

1:33:43 > 1:33:48being wasted and there's a culture of discontent fostered. So every

1:33:48 > 1:33:53have not got our own House in order, Madam Deputy 's big, as a

1:33:53 > 1:34:01Government, at all levels, -- Madam Deputy Speaker, and so one, we must

1:34:01 > 1:34:10address in this place it. When it comes to Government, they must set

1:34:10 > 1:34:20the example. There was a DDA form filled in and this woman's employer,

1:34:20 > 1:34:27the civil service, was aware she had colitis. She applied for a transfer

1:34:27 > 1:34:32to a department closer to home, and she was not accommodated full

1:34:32 > 1:34:36subduing to the occupational health service meetings and was told, yes,

1:34:36 > 1:34:43she would be off work sick and should not be returning to work

1:34:43 > 1:34:46until it settle down and engine was medically retired because it was

1:34:46 > 1:34:55felt she was not fit for work. She applied for benefits but was not

1:34:55 > 1:34:59allowed to get it and she was advised to go for employment. You

1:34:59 > 1:35:07expect someone to hire according to the PSA, so when we look the civil

1:35:07 > 1:35:13service process, at the age of 28, she was classified as not fit by the

1:35:13 > 1:35:18civil service had made to feel like a scrounger for feeling at the civil

1:35:18 > 1:35:21service with their hundreds of offices could not facilitate an

1:35:21 > 1:35:25illness she would have no chance in the private sector. Thankfully, we

1:35:25 > 1:35:28were able to help her when it comes to the issue of getting her

1:35:28 > 1:35:37benefits. Both took reviews but ultimately she won. Nobody believed

1:35:37 > 1:35:41she could not work. The fact she couldn't, because they paid her off,

1:35:41 > 1:35:45because she was medically unfit, it made no sense and that's why we must

1:35:45 > 1:35:49lead by example and put into place initiatives that help disabled

1:35:49 > 1:35:53people be confident in their abilities. Instead of feeling only

1:35:53 > 1:35:56their disabilities are important. It's hard to expect small businesses

1:35:56 > 1:36:00to understand a disability does not mean an inability to be a vital

1:36:00 > 1:36:10player in a team whenever we, as civil servants, are not able to do

1:36:10 > 1:36:14this, putting schemes to rent this happening, and this House is one

1:36:14 > 1:36:20place where I'm advocating we get our House in order quickly. I look

1:36:20 > 1:36:23to my constituency and I'm very conscious of time, and I see the

1:36:23 > 1:36:28potential of young people, in Long Stone, behave real school where

1:36:28 > 1:36:36people with disabilities who need educational challenges, are trained

1:36:36 > 1:36:42to work and sometimes for them, it's a big bad world, but it's a world of

1:36:42 > 1:36:46opportunity and we should try to move it towards that, and we have so

1:36:46 > 1:36:50much more to offer. Should reconsider apprenticeships with

1:36:50 > 1:36:59financial support to those with learning disabilities? We respect

1:36:59 > 1:37:04greatly this. I'm certain many partnerships would turn into

1:37:04 > 1:37:09employment. What can we do to help those who want to work, who have

1:37:09 > 1:37:12skills to offer, and yet feel there is no place for them in the modern

1:37:12 > 1:37:17workplace? To me, that is what this debate is about, giving hope,

1:37:17 > 1:37:20vision, opportunity and if we could do that I believe we are moving in

1:37:20 > 1:37:25the right direction. I don't have the answers, not to everything in

1:37:25 > 1:37:31the world, but I do try to at least seek out the answers and I see the

1:37:31 > 1:37:36great advantage of this debate today, but I'm asking the Minister

1:37:36 > 1:37:42and her department to really seriously consider this issue. I'm

1:37:42 > 1:37:49sure she would come back to the floor with amazing plan to make this

1:37:49 > 1:37:53happen and we can start with the civil service. I commend the

1:37:53 > 1:37:56honourable lady for her compassion and one of the members who today

1:37:56 > 1:38:01came on the third afternoon, to participate in a debate which is

1:38:01 > 1:38:14really, really important.Thank you. Can I also, as a member who has a

1:38:14 > 1:38:21constituency, congratulate my honourable friend from East Kilbride

1:38:21 > 1:38:26and commend the honourable member for attempting that earlier. You did

1:38:26 > 1:38:30very well indeed. I think we heard from my honourable friend earlier

1:38:30 > 1:38:36speech which was rich in detail, in understanding and empathy, someone

1:38:36 > 1:38:43who really truly understands the subject, and I fully commend her for

1:38:43 > 1:38:46bringing this very positively titled debate about the role of disabled

1:38:46 > 1:38:52people in economic growth to the chamber today. It is somewhat

1:38:52 > 1:38:54scandalous that we haven't had the opportunity to debate this before,

1:38:54 > 1:39:02but that is a wrong which has been invited today. We in the SNP no

1:39:02 > 1:39:05disabled people continue to make a fantastic contribution to the

1:39:05 > 1:39:11economy and I've got to say, with all the words we have heard here

1:39:11 > 1:39:18today, the empathy, the joint approach taken for these issues in

1:39:18 > 1:39:23the chamber, comments that actually come from the Government themselves

1:39:23 > 1:39:29can do a lot of harm. I think our approach to disabled people, the

1:39:29 > 1:39:34approach we have heard here today is in stark contrast to the UK

1:39:34 > 1:39:36Government's Chancellor who said recently he thinks disabled people

1:39:36 > 1:39:42are reducing productivity and I would like to quote from my

1:39:42 > 1:39:45honourable friend, not from her speech today, but from an excellent

1:39:45 > 1:39:48article she wrote recently, saying the answer is simple, invest in

1:39:48 > 1:39:54improving the Pathways to work, invest in the disabled

1:39:54 > 1:39:57entrepreneurs, improve reasonable adjustment guidelines and encourage

1:39:57 > 1:40:00businesses to diversify the workforce. Create incentives rather

1:40:00 > 1:40:05than enforce sanctions. If the £108 million spent by the Government to

1:40:05 > 1:40:09deny disabled people the benefits they are entitled to was redirected

1:40:09 > 1:40:14into creating an apprenticeship scheme, entrepreneurship, and

1:40:14 > 1:40:17training opportunities for example, perhaps the narrative of people with

1:40:17 > 1:40:24disabilities could change. I think those are very wise words. I'm also

1:40:24 > 1:40:27grateful Madam Deputy Speaker to scope for the briefing they have

1:40:27 > 1:40:31sent along for this debate and before I move on I want to get onto

1:40:31 > 1:40:37that comment made by the Chancellor. Scope said we found the Chancellor's

1:40:37 > 1:40:39statement before the Treasury Select Committee on the naked

1:40:39 > 1:40:40Committee

1:40:40 > 1:40:47negative impact to be entirely untrue and unacceptable and they

1:40:47 > 1:40:53underline the fact brought out by my honourable friend, who said a ten

1:40:53 > 1:40:57percentage point rise in the employment rate amongst disabled

1:40:57 > 1:41:03people would increase GDP by £45 billion by 2030 and result in a £12

1:41:03 > 1:41:07billion gain to the Exchequer, so I do hope that the Minister, who is

1:41:07 > 1:41:11known to be a thoughtful person, will reflect on those comments from

1:41:11 > 1:41:22the Chancellor and will distance herself from those remarks. There is

1:41:22 > 1:41:26a real opportunity for a positive impact of tackling the disability

1:41:26 > 1:41:29employment gap in the economy. Delivering the reforms needed to

1:41:29 > 1:41:34support more people to enter, remain and progress in work but progress up

1:41:34 > 1:41:38until now has been slow. Government and employers need to do more to

1:41:38 > 1:41:45harness economic benefits and increase the disability employment

1:41:45 > 1:41:49rate. Tackling the disability employment gap would mean, as I have

1:41:49 > 1:41:54said, economic growth and productivity would increase.

1:41:54 > 1:41:58Employing disabled people is an opportunity for employers,

1:41:58 > 1:42:01delivering significant benefits to business and the economy, so it's

1:42:01 > 1:42:08important to underline the Parliamentary group on disability,

1:42:08 > 1:42:13all of those are relevant, but especially the tailored and targeted

1:42:13 > 1:42:16support for the self-employed disabled people from the business

1:42:16 > 1:42:18bank, the funding for reasonable adjustments for disabled recipients

1:42:18 > 1:42:23of tech start-up support from innovate UK, and bringing forward

1:42:23 > 1:42:28working requirements the plan for recruitment, but it's also vital to

1:42:28 > 1:42:33recognise the additional challenges that faced by disabled people. My

1:42:33 > 1:42:36honourable friend earlier talked about the bullying and high numbers

1:42:36 > 1:42:43of applications required simply to get a job interview, let alone get

1:42:43 > 1:42:49to a job and she said earlier we cannot afford to sit and wait.

1:42:49 > 1:42:52Throughout this debate today we've heard many people agreeing on the

1:42:52 > 1:42:55need for action. I think what disabled people want to see now is

1:42:55 > 1:43:04action. I'm happy to give away.He quite rightly mentions the

1:43:04 > 1:43:11challenges disabled people have. One is that, depending on the form of

1:43:11 > 1:43:13disability, the fatigue element as the day progresses can be quite

1:43:13 > 1:43:18critical to that person, so I do believe employment opportunities

1:43:18 > 1:43:24could be tailored with specific reference to how this fatigue can

1:43:24 > 1:43:31kick in after two or three hours of concentrated work.Thank you. I

1:43:31 > 1:43:36think it's important to look at the whole size and scale of this, the

1:43:36 > 1:43:39challenges people have and to take all of them into account to make

1:43:39 > 1:43:43sure that we are able to take full advantage of this. Now, as my

1:43:43 > 1:43:46honourable friend also said earlier, the UK has already skills shortage

1:43:46 > 1:43:51and the Brexit exodus of skilled labour means the opportunity of

1:43:51 > 1:43:54training and pensions must be embraced falls as we said, the

1:43:54 > 1:43:58Government at the moment is not going far enough, specialist advice

1:43:58 > 1:44:02services for self-employment are required and we need to start to

1:44:02 > 1:44:11avoid stereotypes in these debates.

1:44:11 > 1:44:14The additional challenges also come down to hard cash and the extra

1:44:14 > 1:44:19costs they have to cope with. New research from Scope shows that an

1:44:19 > 1:44:24average disabled people have do find an extra £750 per month related to

1:44:24 > 1:44:28their condition on top of any Social Security payments designed to meet

1:44:28 > 1:44:33these costs. The financial penalty box disabled people out of being

1:44:33 > 1:44:38able to make a positive contribution to the economy. They need practical

1:44:38 > 1:44:43help, and the Government can help now with reversing the trend of

1:44:43 > 1:44:49removing, for example, another issue that my honourable friend is keen to

1:44:49 > 1:45:00bring up, the ability of most ability when people are having their

1:45:00 > 1:45:11ability to move around restricted. I was interested to hear that more

1:45:11 > 1:45:16money should be spent on disability payments. There should be more from

1:45:16 > 1:45:21this Social Security to support disabled people, particularly given

1:45:21 > 1:45:30the disadvantage they have. In terms of the recent work of the pensions

1:45:30 > 1:45:32committee, it presented real evidence that the assessments are

1:45:32 > 1:45:37failing a substantial minority of claimants, with claimants stories

1:45:37 > 1:45:44highlighting clear errors being made, and the SS is lacking

1:45:44 > 1:45:47knowledge and expertise. It is not just about putting more money into

1:45:47 > 1:45:51the system, but about making the system work for more disabled

1:45:51 > 1:46:03people. I will give way.We can meet with some of the officials in

1:46:03 > 1:46:10Northern Ireland, and I was just that if it is possible to have a

1:46:10 > 1:46:13meeting that we would then get the hotline for people who can make the

1:46:13 > 1:46:21changes. Those people who are doing the assessment would be up to speed.

1:46:21 > 1:46:28Capita nisi changed some of the things they are doing. Can I suggest

1:46:28 > 1:46:30that others do the same in their own regions ration

1:46:30 > 1:46:35that others do the same in their own regions ration?Having listened to

1:46:35 > 1:46:47me on issues of Universal Credit for many occasions, he can be a I

1:46:47 > 1:46:53reassured. I believe that it is a good thing to do. It does not I

1:46:53 > 1:47:02nabbed the difficulties. -- remove the difficulties. Between April 2016

1:47:02 > 1:47:14and March 2017, the Scope helpline saw eight 542% rise in calls related

1:47:14 > 1:47:25to PIP payments. There is much more that the Government can do to help

1:47:25 > 1:47:33on this. I want to finish with some criticisms, but also given the fact

1:47:33 > 1:47:36that the Minister will be listening carefully and looking for ways to

1:47:36 > 1:47:46take action today, and that we are looking at things back in our own

1:47:46 > 1:47:49constituencies. I hope that the Minister will listen carefully and

1:47:49 > 1:47:54take on board some of the opportunities to perhaps learn or

1:47:54 > 1:48:02think about how things might be done differently. We have seen the impact

1:48:02 > 1:48:08that the UK government's system has had on people in Scotland. In

1:48:08 > 1:48:11October, between 7000 and 10,000 disabled people per year were being

1:48:11 > 1:48:16affected by the removal of the work activity component of employment and

1:48:16 > 1:48:20support allowance. That is completely appalling and simply

1:48:20 > 1:48:25unacceptable. It also found that 40,000 disabled people claiming

1:48:25 > 1:48:28implement and support allowance had been affected by the bedroom tax.

1:48:28 > 1:48:33TSA is supposed to support disabled people into employment, but the

1:48:33 > 1:48:37Government has said that the £30 a week cut was to remove incentives to

1:48:37 > 1:48:42be out of work. That is an outrageous thing to do. It is

1:48:42 > 1:48:46pushing people into poverty and crisis. The PIP assessment process

1:48:46 > 1:48:54is failing disabled people. According to the DWP figures, one in

1:48:54 > 1:48:58five claimants who went through mandatory reconsideration had their

1:48:58 > 1:49:06reward changed, meaning there is a 20% of those decisions that were

1:49:06 > 1:49:13wrong. With the limited powers that have been transferred to Scotland,

1:49:13 > 1:49:18there are changes where disabled people should have equality to

1:49:18 > 1:49:23access the work. The Scottish government is committed to reducing

1:49:23 > 1:49:34the gap by half. With financial support available to businesses, it

1:49:34 > 1:49:38would make sense that they would recruit from the widest pool of

1:49:38 > 1:49:46talent possible. While disabled people make up 20% of the

1:49:46 > 1:49:56population, they represent a lower proportion in the public and private

1:49:56 > 1:50:06sector. The Scottish government introduced employer ability

1:50:06 > 1:50:11programmes. In July last year, a campaign was launched to boost the

1:50:11 > 1:50:14awareness amongst businesses of the benefits of employing people with

1:50:14 > 1:50:19disabilities, specifically targeting small and medium-sized enterprises.

1:50:19 > 1:50:25From April 2018, a new programme will take a new approach to make

1:50:25 > 1:50:29sure that disabled people are offered support which is

1:50:29 > 1:50:36appropriate. Disabled people engaging with the programme will

1:50:36 > 1:50:39receive support which identifies and develops their strengths and assets

1:50:39 > 1:50:44while focusing on sustainable employment outcomes. Only today, the

1:50:44 > 1:50:47Scottish Dummett and as that people will no longer see a reduction in

1:50:47 > 1:50:52their payments during the appeal process for benefits. That is

1:50:52 > 1:50:57something the Minister, given her response, can say that the UK

1:50:57 > 1:51:03government will consider taking action. The message from the chamber

1:51:03 > 1:51:06today, from all sides of the chamber, has been crystal clear.

1:51:06 > 1:51:12Let's do all that can be done to realise and release the potential of

1:51:12 > 1:51:22disabled people for economic growth.

1:51:23 > 1:51:26Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Let me firstly begin by congratulating

1:51:26 > 1:51:32the member for East Kilbride for securing this important and also

1:51:32 > 1:51:37timely debate. I also want to commend her for all the work that

1:51:37 > 1:51:44she has led on the disability all party Parliamentary group. I would

1:51:44 > 1:51:50also like to extend a thank you to a number of different disability

1:51:50 > 1:51:56organisations, including the disability rights UK, the RNIB,

1:51:56 > 1:52:02Scope, Leonard Cheshire and also action on hearing loss for all of

1:52:02 > 1:52:06their work that they have done around improving the employment

1:52:06 > 1:52:10opportunities for disabled people and also for the important briefings

1:52:10 > 1:52:17that they have provided for today's very important debate. Madam Deputy

1:52:17 > 1:52:23Speaker, there are currently around 11.6 million disabled people in this

1:52:23 > 1:52:27country, people like me who have factors that could act as a barrier

1:52:27 > 1:52:32to engaging in a wide range of valued activity, not just economic

1:52:32 > 1:52:39activity. That is obviously the focus of our debates today. Disabled

1:52:39 > 1:52:44people make up around 16% of the working age population, yet we face

1:52:44 > 1:52:49barriers in all aspects of life, including in education, in

1:52:49 > 1:52:56transport, access to justice, access to voting, housing, health and most

1:52:56 > 1:53:04importantly employment. Almost eight years of Tory austerity has had a

1:53:04 > 1:53:07disproportionate impact on disabled people. We know that half of those

1:53:07 > 1:53:15who live in poverty are disabled or live with somebody who is. In part

1:53:15 > 1:53:22because of the additional cost of their disability, but also because

1:53:22 > 1:53:25the labour market does not work well for disabled people who were able to

1:53:25 > 1:53:30work. The duty to make reasonable adjustments to support disabled

1:53:30 > 1:53:37people to access education, employment, housing and goods and

1:53:37 > 1:53:42services is a key feature of the equality act of 2010, but we know

1:53:42 > 1:53:47that from the House of Lords report in 2000 15/16 or the equality act

1:53:47 > 1:53:54and disabled people that legislation needs strong government action to

1:53:54 > 1:53:58ensure it is strongly upheld and to remove the barriers in society that

1:53:58 > 1:54:10disabled people who have a condition. It is of concern that we

1:54:10 > 1:54:16have a government who speak of removing barriers but then create

1:54:16 > 1:54:28others through Social Security cuts. They made a commitment that they

1:54:28 > 1:54:34were found to be behind on. They have replaced the pledge and reduced

1:54:34 > 1:54:37it to committing to getting 1 million more disabled people into

1:54:37 > 1:54:44work. As we have heard today, the rate for disabled people being

1:54:44 > 1:54:56employed stands at 49 when -- 49.2%. In the most recent period where

1:54:56 > 1:55:03these figures were available. The disability employment gap lies at

1:55:03 > 1:55:10around 31.3%, which is even wider among specific disability groups. If

1:55:10 > 1:55:15you take the registered blind individuals, only one in four of

1:55:15 > 1:55:20working age people are in work. My honourable friend from Enfield

1:55:20 > 1:55:23Southgate also made reference to the employment gap among those living

1:55:23 > 1:55:31with autism. The Office for National Statistics recently announced that

1:55:31 > 1:55:33it was suspending publication of the disability employment rate in

1:55:33 > 1:55:41definitely. The motion today's refers to the fact that there will

1:55:41 > 1:55:46be an implement gap after Brexit, at the current gap is above the

1:55:46 > 1:55:56European union level of around 20%. It highlights the failure to take

1:55:56 > 1:56:01action. In light of this, why has the Government weakened its

1:56:01 > 1:56:04commitment to reducing the disability employment gap? It would

1:56:04 > 1:56:08also be helpful if the Minister could set out what measures she is

1:56:08 > 1:56:13taking to improve disabled people's ability to enter work, but also to

1:56:13 > 1:56:21actually stay in work. So around retention. Many barriers faced by

1:56:21 > 1:56:24disabled people are shaped by false perceptions about the role that

1:56:24 > 1:56:31disabled people face in the work place. Research by the Scope charity

1:56:31 > 1:56:35found that almost half of disabled people have worried about making

1:56:35 > 1:56:41employers aware of their impairment or condition. One of the key

1:56:41 > 1:56:46barriers highlighted is how we shape employer attitudes around employing

1:56:46 > 1:56:54people with a disability. I would like two ask the Minister, what with

1:56:54 > 1:56:57the Government do to support employees and especially small

1:56:57 > 1:57:04businesses given they make up almost half the workforce. How cancel

1:57:04 > 1:57:09businesses access timely health support, and how can best practice

1:57:09 > 1:57:17be shared? I was surprised that, in the Budget, disability or disabled

1:57:17 > 1:57:24people were not mention, given a negative message to disabled people

1:57:24 > 1:57:31about their role in the economy, and the regrettable impression that

1:57:31 > 1:57:33there could be she was not being championed or prioritised by this

1:57:33 > 1:57:39government. We on this site of the House will build an economy that

1:57:39 > 1:57:44includes everybody because that is how you can develop an economy that

1:57:44 > 1:57:49works for everybody and not just for a few. Madam Deputy Speaker, I

1:57:49 > 1:57:55cannot stand here speaking on the subject without mentioning the

1:57:55 > 1:58:01comments made in December last year by the right honourable member for

1:58:01 > 1:58:05Runnymede during a select committee questioning. The Chancellor linked

1:58:05 > 1:58:08low productivity growth to the employment of disabled people.

1:58:08 > 1:58:13Unfortunately, there has been no apology for the comments and his

1:58:13 > 1:58:20lack of a Morse after the scapegoating of disabled people

1:58:20 > 1:58:27after the failed economic policy speaks volumes. Does the Minister

1:58:27 > 1:58:30agree that there is a need for a clear and coherent message from the

1:58:30 > 1:58:35Government that employing disabled people can enhance productivity and

1:58:35 > 1:58:38make a real contribution to organisations and businesses across

1:58:38 > 1:58:44the UK? Despite this, the Government did manage to finally publish its

1:58:44 > 1:58:51long-awaited improving lives paper late last year. 90% of disability

1:58:51 > 1:58:57and long-term health conditions are acquired, so it is right to examine

1:58:57 > 1:59:00how employers can make reasonable adjustments to support android to

1:59:00 > 1:59:11stay in work if they become disabled. -- to support an employee.

1:59:11 > 1:59:15They do not set out how they would achieve this aim. Today, the

1:59:15 > 1:59:21disability confident campaign launched in 2014 has been a dismal

1:59:21 > 1:59:27failure, making a negligible impact on the disability employment gap.

1:59:27 > 1:59:32The campaign has yet to produce any concrete evidence or results, so can

1:59:32 > 1:59:37the Minister confirm how many additional disabled people have

1:59:37 > 1:59:52found work as a direct result of the disability confident campaign?

1:59:52 > 1:59:55Access to work when it works well provides invaluable support that too

1:59:55 > 2:00:00often I hear about the problems in administration and the timeliness of

2:00:00 > 2:00:07payments as well as the cap on individual awards. Miss French is a

2:00:07 > 2:00:09visually impaired person, her experience found that when the

2:00:09 > 2:00:14subject of access to work came up, recruiters would say the employer is

2:00:14 > 2:00:19into much of a hurry and will not be able to wait for an access to work

2:00:19 > 2:00:26assessments to be completed. Access to work as we all know is probably

2:00:26 > 2:00:31the best kept secret, but a also the scheme also helps far too few people

2:00:31 > 2:00:33and will need significantly more resources if the government is to

2:00:33 > 2:00:41get anywhere near the aim of getting 1 million more disabled people into

2:00:41 > 2:00:53work by 2017. In the case of a deaf person, Mr Will, they were a job by

2:00:53 > 2:00:59a different ability -- disability confident employer, however once the

2:00:59 > 2:01:05employer realised they would have to meet the rest of the costs after the

2:01:05 > 2:01:08cap, that job offer was withdrawn. So, will the minister set out what

2:01:08 > 2:01:12substantive action the government is taking to support people in work,

2:01:12 > 2:01:14what work have they done with disabled people to ensure this

2:01:14 > 2:01:19support is flexible and responsive to need, and more importantly, what

2:01:19 > 2:01:24additional funding is the government going to make available, especially

2:01:24 > 2:01:31to access to work? We also have concerns around the language used in

2:01:31 > 2:01:36the government's Improving Lives paper, which centres around the idea

2:01:36 > 2:01:42that employment can promote recovery. It's a familiar sounding

2:01:42 > 2:01:47phrase, disabled people and people with chronic conditions would

2:01:47 > 2:01:51recover if only they tried a bit harder, or were subject to an ever

2:01:51 > 2:01:58tougher system. Again, can the minister reassure people with

2:01:58 > 2:02:00disabilities that have limitations to work, and those that are actually

2:02:00 > 2:02:08unable to work, that this is not the intended message that her government

2:02:08 > 2:02:16is trying to convey, or in fact that the government believes in? Over

2:02:16 > 2:02:21nearly eight years, disabled people have become the brunt of cuts

2:02:21 > 2:02:23inflicted on them by this government and the coalition government for

2:02:23 > 2:02:36them. The cuts have had a detrimental impact on the lives of

2:02:36 > 2:02:37disabled people, cutting living standards and undermining their

2:02:37 > 2:02:42access to education, to social care and also to justice. And in a 2016

2:02:42 > 2:02:44United Nations convened committee, state violations were investigated

2:02:44 > 2:03:00of the UN Convention on the rights of and persons with a disability,

2:03:00 > 2:03:06and the report concluded that the government had committed grave,

2:03:06 > 2:03:17systematic violations of the rights of

2:03:19 > 2:03:30Persons with a disability. And this is a damning indictment of the

2:03:30 > 2:03:39treatment of disabled people by this government, one which shames us as a

2:03:39 > 2:03:42country, yet the government has failed to act and we believe in a

2:03:42 > 2:03:44social model of disability, a society which removes the barriers

2:03:44 > 2:03:46restricting opportunities and choices for disabled people. We will

2:03:46 > 2:03:48incorporate the UN Convention and the rights of Persons with

2:03:48 > 2:03:52disabilities into law, and I would ask the minister why does the

2:03:52 > 2:03:54government refuse to do the same? Currently there are 4.2 million

2:03:54 > 2:03:57disabled people who live in poverty, and new evidence indicates that this

2:03:57 > 2:04:03number is increasing as a result of cuts and support. Again, according

2:04:03 > 2:04:13to Scope, the 2012 welfare reform act has cut nearly 28 billion in

2:04:13 > 2:04:21social security support from a 3.7 million disabled people. The 2016

2:04:21 > 2:04:23welfare reform act cuts are adding to the real suffering many disabled

2:04:23 > 2:04:25people are experiencing and, of course, this doesn't include the

2:04:25 > 2:04:28cuts in social care, the NHS, education and transport. All of

2:04:28 > 2:04:30which have had a direct effect on disabled people. Research by Scope

2:04:30 > 2:04:32that was published this week revealed that on average, disabled

2:04:32 > 2:04:35people face an extra cost of £570 a week, I'm sorry, a month, related to

2:04:35 > 2:04:38their impairment or condition, and this is on top of the social

2:04:38 > 2:04:40security payments designed to help meet those costs. Extra costs mean

2:04:40 > 2:04:45that disabled people's money simply doesn't go far. £100 for a

2:04:45 > 2:04:47non-disabled person is the equivalent of just £67 for a

2:04:47 > 2:04:57disabled person. In addition to the four-year freeze in social security

2:04:57 > 2:05:00support affecting disabled people, the 9016 welfare reform act at

2:05:00 > 2:05:08financial support I £1500 a year to half a million disabled people who

2:05:08 > 2:05:14had been found not fit for work but who maybe in future on the activity

2:05:14 > 2:05:18group. Can the minister provide the House with an assessment of the

2:05:18 > 2:05:21impact of this social security disabled people and their ability to

2:05:21 > 2:05:27actually stay in work and the current social security system is

2:05:27 > 2:05:31not working for disabled people, and new analysis this week of the

2:05:31 > 2:05:35treatment of unemployed disabled claimants has revealed that there

2:05:35 > 2:05:44are up to 53% -- snap up to 53% more likely to be docked money than

2:05:44 > 2:05:48claimants who are not disabled. Disabled people hit with a million

2:05:48 > 2:05:52sanctions since 2010. Under this government we have seen the social

2:05:52 > 2:05:55security system penalising people with disabilities, cutting

2:05:55 > 2:05:58much-needed support and making it harder for them to access the

2:05:58 > 2:06:07support that is available. The assessment process for both ESA and

2:06:07 > 2:06:15PIP are not fits for purpose. The widespread distrust of the

2:06:15 > 2:06:19assessment process by sick and disabled people is, with a record

2:06:19 > 2:06:2268% of PIP decisions taken to tribunal being overturned by those

2:06:22 > 2:06:28tribunal judges. Under private contractors, the assessment process

2:06:28 > 2:06:34is getting worse and not better. So, I ask, wire won't be government act

2:06:34 > 2:06:39to end privatisation and replace the current system with a more holistic

2:06:39 > 2:06:45process? I do welcome the opportunity to have this important

2:06:45 > 2:06:46debate in this Chamber today

2:06:46 > 2:06:49opportunity to have this important debate in this Chamber today, and

2:06:49 > 2:06:51also thanking members across the House for their contributions.

2:06:51 > 2:06:57However I believe that until the government take into account the

2:06:57 > 2:07:02reality that far too many disabled people in the social security system

2:07:02 > 2:07:06that punishes them, rather than support them, and a labour market

2:07:06 > 2:07:11that shuts them out rather than one which opens up their potential and

2:07:11 > 2:07:15opens up to their skills. It is incumbent on the government to

2:07:15 > 2:07:22harness the potential of everyone and create a truly inclusive society

2:07:22 > 2:07:32that works for the many and not just a few. Thank you.Thank you very

2:07:32 > 2:07:38much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I would like to add my personal

2:07:38 > 2:07:43congratulations to those offered by everyone else this afternoon to the

2:07:43 > 2:07:49member for East Kilbride. I am not going to throw everybody's named

2:07:49 > 2:07:54constituencies because I have got so little time left, but I think she

2:07:54 > 2:07:59did a magnificent job introducing this debate. I would echo the words

2:07:59 > 2:08:04that people have said on all sides of the House about her commitment to

2:08:04 > 2:08:07this really important issue, her sincerity and the way in which she

2:08:07 > 2:08:13presented her debate in such a positive weighbridge has been in

2:08:13 > 2:08:16marked contrast to some of the later contributions in this debate, quite

2:08:16 > 2:08:23sadly. The work of the AP Gigi and voluntary sector organisations that

2:08:23 > 2:08:27do sue so much to support their work and in the myriad of ways that we

2:08:27 > 2:08:32have heard this afternoon. It is really important to hear all the

2:08:32 > 2:08:44voices across the House today, and we have heard some very powerful

2:08:44 > 2:08:55personal testimony from the members of Eastbourne and Battersea and

2:08:55 > 2:08:58others about their lived experience of disability, and they have all

2:08:58 > 2:09:00made significant contributions in improving disabled people's

2:09:00 > 2:09:10opportunities in playing their full part in society. The member for

2:09:10 > 2:09:14Battersea raised to some individual cases, and I would appreciate her

2:09:14 > 2:09:27providing me with the specific details so that I can resolve those

2:09:27 > 2:09:36matters. I would like to congratulate the member for

2:09:36 > 2:09:49Hornchurch and Upminster on becoming a disabled, confident employer.

2:09:49 > 2:09:55Yesterday she joined some 78 mamas of Parliament who have done this,

2:09:55 > 2:09:57and there will be further opportunities for those that have

2:09:57 > 2:09:59taken up this scheme. I would really like to praise her and encourage her

2:09:59 > 2:10:02for the work that she's going to be doing her constituency with her

2:10:02 > 2:10:04Jobcentre plus. That personal work that we can do in our

2:10:04 > 2:10:06constituencies, advocating amongst local employers, to take seriously

2:10:06 > 2:10:08all of our desire to see more disabled people in employment, is

2:10:08 > 2:10:10really important and really powerful. She raised a really

2:10:10 > 2:10:12important point about enabling disabled children to develop their

2:10:12 > 2:10:14employment skills, and to have the same opportunities as all other

2:10:14 > 2:10:16young people to gain work experience. So, she will be pleased

2:10:16 > 2:10:18to know that the Department for Education completely agrees with her

2:10:18 > 2:10:21and is increasing its commitment and funding to enable young people to

2:10:21 > 2:10:23have supported internships. We've also heard from the member for

2:10:23 > 2:10:25hitching and Harper didn't and Chippenham, who have both made

2:10:25 > 2:10:27powerful speeches about the level of ambition we all share in closing the

2:10:27 > 2:10:29discipline disability employment gap. They both stress the importance

2:10:29 > 2:10:31of working closely with employers on culture change, and I completely

2:10:31 > 2:10:34agree. We are considering the issues that they raised about improving the

2:10:34 > 2:10:35disability confidence scheme, although I absolutely refute what

2:10:35 > 2:10:38the member for Battersea set, this is not a failing skin, it is a

2:10:38 > 2:10:44growing scheme. We are looking at what more we can do to incentivise

2:10:44 > 2:10:45businesses, publishing the levels of disability employment, especially

2:10:45 > 2:10:50from large employers, and looking at what more we can do to communicate

2:10:50 > 2:10:54the wide range of help that is available to support businesses and

2:10:54 > 2:10:59public sector organisations to employ disabled people. Now, I'd

2:10:59 > 2:11:04like to congratulate the member for Strangford unbecoming at a

2:11:04 > 2:11:06disability confident employer yesterday. And he raised a very

2:11:06 > 2:11:14important point about how important it is that people feel confident to

2:11:14 > 2:11:16disclose their disability, and how important it is for employers to

2:11:16 > 2:11:20feel confident about hearing that news, and how we can work together

2:11:20 > 2:11:25to make sure that happens. Because there is financial support

2:11:25 > 2:11:28available, both to the disabled person through access to work but

2:11:28 > 2:11:35also to employers who will be employing a disabled person. And I

2:11:35 > 2:11:41can absolutely assure the member for Inverness that each and every year,

2:11:41 > 2:11:46we are increasing our investment in benefits for disabled people, and

2:11:46 > 2:11:49those with health conditions. This year alone we're spending more than

2:11:49 > 2:11:55£50 billion more than the defence budget, and I'm proud to be part of

2:11:55 > 2:11:58a government that prioritises supporting disabled people. That is

2:11:58 > 2:12:03an increase of £7 billion since 2010. And we are determined to

2:12:03 > 2:12:08continuously improve the processes of the operation of the system which

2:12:08 > 2:12:11administers our disability benefits. I will give way. I am grateful to

2:12:11 > 2:12:17the minister for giving way.I feel that in addition to this point that

2:12:17 > 2:12:20she is due to address the comments made by the Chancellor and distance

2:12:20 > 2:12:24herself from that, but on that specific point, what does she say to

2:12:24 > 2:12:35those people who have lost the severe disability allowance, then,

2:12:35 > 2:12:38from disability payments?As he has so intervened on me, I will not

2:12:38 > 2:12:42leave that without commenting on it. It is absolutely irresponsible of

2:12:42 > 2:12:48the gentlemen to so deliberately misrepresent what the Chancellor has

2:12:48 > 2:12:55said at the select committee. We all owe a huge, we all have a huge

2:12:55 > 2:12:58responsibility in this House, to be very careful of what we say so that

2:12:58 > 2:13:04we honour the truth, and we don't make comments which will scare among

2:13:04 > 2:13:08and frighten some of the most vulnerable people... No, I'm not

2:13:08 > 2:13:12going to give way, I've been very generous in giving way and I will

2:13:12 > 2:13:16not indulge the honourable gentleman any more in pursuing things which he

2:13:16 > 2:13:22has met was misrepresented and quoted out of context. Madam Deputy

2:13:22 > 2:13:28Speaker, returning to the spirit of the debate, which his colleague, the

2:13:28 > 2:13:33honourable lady, so well-set for this House, of cross-party, all this

2:13:33 > 2:13:36House coming together to speak to disabled people outside this

2:13:36 > 2:13:42Chamber, to show how much we value them, how much more we want to do to

2:13:42 > 2:13:46enable them to play their support in society, how much we all want to do

2:13:46 > 2:13:50to enable employers to take able on, I'm going to return to the tone

2:13:50 > 2:13:55which was ably set by the honourable gentleman's colleague and I hope he

2:13:55 > 2:14:02can respect his own colleague and the tone she set for us. Madam

2:14:02 > 2:14:05Deputy Speaker, last week I visited North Devon district Hospital with

2:14:05 > 2:14:09the excellent member of Parliament, and we met some young people who are

2:14:09 > 2:14:14doing really valued jobs in hospital on wards with patients and in

2:14:14 > 2:14:17vitally important support services such as in the engineering

2:14:17 > 2:14:20department. All these excellent young people had been supported by

2:14:20 > 2:14:24their local college and plus through a government funded scheme. They

2:14:24 > 2:14:29were really supported through work experience and placements in the

2:14:29 > 2:14:34hospital, and this programme has been working for five years. All of

2:14:34 > 2:14:41these young people have learning disabilities.

2:14:41 > 2:14:44They were being employed not as an act of charity but because of who

2:14:44 > 2:14:49they were. I have the privilege as the Minister for disabled people to

2:14:49 > 2:14:54meet disabled people doing extraordinarily good work in every

2:14:54 > 2:15:01sort of work right across this country. Just this morning, I was at

2:15:01 > 2:15:06Channel 4, who kindly hosted the first year anniversary of our sector

2:15:06 > 2:15:12champions. Each sector champion is a leader in their industry. They are

2:15:12 > 2:15:17working to improve access for disabled people to their industry,

2:15:17 > 2:15:22from financial services to retail, tourism, media and transport. Each

2:15:22 > 2:15:27sector leader is an inspirational leader in their field, driving real

2:15:27 > 2:15:32change in access for disabled people. They are doing this not just

2:15:32 > 2:15:36because it is the right thing to do but because it makes good business

2:15:36 > 2:15:41sense for them as well. There are an estimated 13 million disabled people

2:15:41 > 2:15:50in our country. Each year, they spend an estimated £250 billion. If

2:15:50 > 2:15:52businesses are not accessible, they are missing out on a great deal of

2:15:52 > 2:15:58business. Access ability, as members have said, does not need to be

2:15:58 > 2:16:02expensive. What our champions are doing is sharing best practice and

2:16:02 > 2:16:05information so more people are confident about employing disabled

2:16:05 > 2:16:12people. Disabled people are not

2:16:12 > 2:16:13Mickey huge contributions as consumers at, as we have heard

2:16:13 > 2:16:19today, in all aspects of our society. That does include

2:16:19 > 2:16:22employment. As the Government is building a bridge and which is fit

2:16:22 > 2:16:28for the future, when no one is left behind, we have been clear that we

2:16:28 > 2:16:33want our economy to harness the skills, talents and contributions of

2:16:33 > 2:16:39every person in society. We have made significant progress. There are

2:16:39 > 2:16:43now 6000 more disabled people in work than there were four years ago

2:16:43 > 2:16:52for the -- there are now 600,000 more disabled people in work.

2:16:52 > 2:16:58Implement rates are at record highs. But we know that only half of the

2:16:58 > 2:17:02disabled people who would like to work or in work. New analysis also

2:17:02 > 2:17:06shows that over the course of the year disabled people are twice as

2:17:06 > 2:17:10likely to fall out of work, and almost three times less likely to

2:17:10 > 2:17:14move into work when compared to non-disabled people. That is simply

2:17:14 > 2:17:21not acceptable. I will give way.I thank the Minister for giving way.

2:17:21 > 2:17:26Apropos of what the Minister has just said, which she agree with me

2:17:26 > 2:17:31that if you are disabled and living in a very remote area, such as my

2:17:31 > 2:17:37constituency, getting to work, the physical travel poses very special

2:17:37 > 2:17:41and difficult challenges for these people, and that is something the

2:17:41 > 2:17:43Government will have to think about very carefully so that my

2:17:43 > 2:17:49constituents in this situation are not disadvantaged.He makes a good

2:17:49 > 2:17:56point. Representing a constituency in Cornwall, I completely sympathise

2:17:56 > 2:18:02with the issues he raises. Access to work funding is available, which

2:18:02 > 2:18:03includes transport, enabling people to get to their places of

2:18:03 > 2:18:11employment. It is also important that we look at what more can be

2:18:11 > 2:18:15doing, joining up community transport with public transport. In

2:18:15 > 2:18:21areas like the one to represent, public transport isn't as good a

2:18:21 > 2:18:25service as it is in urban areas. There is more work to be done there.

2:18:25 > 2:18:31With more than one in six people of working age reporting a disability,

2:18:31 > 2:18:35it is important that we do everything we can to make sure their

2:18:35 > 2:18:40talents do not go to waste. That is why we do have an urgent and copper

2:18:40 > 2:18:50of plans in action. We have the personal support package, £330

2:18:50 > 2:18:54million of funding for a range of new initiatives for those in the

2:18:54 > 2:18:57right group, so they can have tailor-made personal support to

2:18:57 > 2:19:04enable them to take the steps to work. We have already recruited over

2:19:04 > 2:19:07300 additional disability employment advisers, bringing special advice

2:19:07 > 2:19:13and support into the job centre. We have begun introducing 200 new

2:19:13 > 2:19:17community partners you are able to share their lived experience of

2:19:17 > 2:19:22disability across our job centre network. I will not take any more

2:19:22 > 2:19:27interventions because I am seeing a slight impatience because there is a

2:19:27 > 2:19:29second debate this afternoon and there are some point I need to

2:19:29 > 2:19:35address that have been raised this afternoon. Our work and health has

2:19:35 > 2:19:39lodged, which has contracted value of over £500 million to give

2:19:39 > 2:19:43specialist support, including two disabled people. An important point

2:19:43 > 2:19:49was raised this afternoon about the entrepreneurial spirit of disabled

2:19:49 > 2:19:57people. Our new enterprise allowance has allowed daily 20,000 people --

2:19:57 > 2:20:07nearly 20,000 disabled people to set up businesses. We also have our

2:20:07 > 2:20:11small employer offer them again to help more disabled people into

2:20:11 > 2:20:18employment. Bearing in mind the time, I would really encourage

2:20:18 > 2:20:25members to read the improving lives, which sets out an ambitious plan of

2:20:25 > 2:20:29detailed actions and investments that the Government is taking,

2:20:29 > 2:20:34including in assistive technology. It is absolutely not what the mother

2:20:34 > 2:20:39for Battersea said it was. We are not saying those things, which I

2:20:39 > 2:20:41will not repeat in this House because they are so fundamentally

2:20:41 > 2:20:46wrong. What we are about is recognising the talents of disabled

2:20:46 > 2:20:55people and making sure that there are no barriers all its so those --

2:20:55 > 2:20:58no barriers or limits so those talents can take them as far as they

2:20:58 > 2:21:01can. I'm delighted to say that in the devolved administrations, they

2:21:01 > 2:21:06are taking all sorts of different actions. We are working closely with

2:21:06 > 2:21:12the Scottish government, and we are jointly funding the single gateway

2:21:12 > 2:21:15project in Dundee and five, which is a good, innovative programme which

2:21:15 > 2:21:18I'm looking forward to looking closely with to see the lessons we

2:21:18 > 2:21:23can learn to roll it out. It is a single point of contact between the

2:21:23 > 2:21:27job centre and employers and disabled people themselves. Of

2:21:27 > 2:21:30course we will continue to work closely with devolved

2:21:30 > 2:21:37administrations to see what more we can do. To finally summarise, I want

2:21:37 > 2:21:42to congratulate the member for East Kilbride on bringing this issue to

2:21:42 > 2:21:48the House, achieving our ambition of seeing at least 1 million more sabre

2:21:48 > 2:21:54people in work requires all of us to work together. Of course, the

2:21:54 > 2:22:03Government has got a role to play but so do businesses, the health

2:22:03 > 2:22:12sector and the voluntary sector. We all have vital roles to play. I hope

2:22:12 > 2:22:17they will support me and the Government in delivering our

2:22:17 > 2:22:20ambitious vision for a society in which disabled people can play their