Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Equality at work: flexible working and disability
Open
Opened 30 Apr 2026
Women and Equalities Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Women and Equalities Committee is examining disabled workers’ and jobseekers’ access to flexible working arrangements. The inquiry is considering experiences of flexible working across different groups of disabled people and sectors of the labour market. It will examine associated schemes, such as Access to Work. It is considering the effectiveness of the law in this area, including employers’ duties to provide “reasonable adjustments” under the Equality Act and changes, set out in the Employment Rights Act 2025, intended to widen access to flexible working arrangements. British Sign Language version of the terms of reference | Easy Read version of the terms of reference
Where it stands
The inquiry is open, opened 30 April 2026.
The committee has not published a report yet.
Evidence
- 3 oral evidence sessionsLatest 21 October 2026
- 13 written submissions
- 10 witnesses
Recent activity
- Women and Equalities Committee21 October 2026, Oral evidence
- Civil Liberties Action21 October 2026, Written evidence · FWD0103
- Endometriosis UK14 October 2026, Written evidence · FWD0102
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 2026 |
Women and Equalities Committee
Daisy Goodall · Trades Union Congress (TUC)
|
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| 2 Sep 2026 |
Women and Equalities Committee
Dr Paula Holland · Lancaster University,
Professor Daniel Wheatley · University of Birmingham,
Professor Heejung Chung · King's College London,
Professor Jane Parry · University of Southamptom
|
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| 15 Jul 2026 |
Women and Equalities Committee
Alison Thwaite · The Down's Syndrome Association,
Clare Ogden · Action for ME,
Fazilet Hadi MBE · Disability Rights UK,
James Taylor · Scope,
Patricia Stapleton · Arthritis UK
|
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Written evidence
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| Reference | Date | Submitter |
|---|---|---|
| FWD0103 | 21 Oct 2026 | Civil Liberties Action |
| FWD0102 | 14 Oct 2026 | Endometriosis UK |
| FWD0101 | 7 Sep 2026 | Professor Jane Parry |
| FWD0003 | 2 Sep 2026 | Disability Balance Peter Crowley, Windsor Actuarial |
| FWD0016 | 2 Sep 2026 | Mrs Tonimarie Benaton, SWET |
| FWD0092 | 2 Sep 2026 | Alice Arkwright, Trade Union Congress (TUC) |
| FWD0093 | 2 Sep 2026 | Charlotte Reed |
| FWD0094 | 2 Sep 2026 | University of Lancashire |
| FWD0097 | 2 Sep 2026 | Arthritis UK |
| FWD0096 | 2 Sep 2026 | SOUTHAMPTON BUSINESS SCHOOL |
| FWD0098 | 2 Sep 2026 | University of West of England Bristol |
| FWD0099 | 2 Sep 2026 | Down's Syndrome Association |
| FWD0100 | 2 Sep 2026 | Social Enterprise Scotland |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Alison Thwaite · Head of Employment Services | The Down's Syndrome Association | 1 |
| Clare Ogden · Head of Support Services | Action for ME | 1 |
| Daisy Goodall · Policy Officer (young workers) | Trades Union Congress (TUC) | 1 |
| Dr Paula Holland · Senior Lecturer in Public Health | Lancaster University | 1 |
| Fazilet Hadi MBE · Head of Policy, Advice and Information | Disability Rights UK | 1 |
| James Taylor · Executive Director, Strategy, Impact and Social Change | Scope | 1 |
| Patricia Stapleton · Senior Policy Manager | Arthritis UK | 1 |
| Professor Daniel Wheatley · Director of the Work Inclusivity Research Centre | University of Birmingham | 1 |
| Professor Heejung Chung · Director, King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership | King's College London | 1 |
| Professor Jane Parry · Professor of Work and Employment | University of Southamptom | 1 |