Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Accepted
Establish a national advisory group to review and advise on disability policy.
Recommendation
The Government should immediately establish a national advisory group bringing together the DPO Forum England and the chairs of Regional Stakeholder Networks. The advisory group’s remit should include reviewing all government policy proposals targeted towards people with disabilities; advising ministers on issues facing disabled people; and working closely with the Disability Unit and the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work on the further development, implementation and evaluation of the National Disability Strategy. (Paragraph 28) 20 The National Disability Strategy Evidence
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to establish a new national advisory group, stating that its existing stakeholder engagement framework, which includes regular meetings with DPO Forum England and Regional Stakeholder Network chairs, already effectively replicates the proposed group's remit.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
This recommendation would effectively replicate the DU’s existing stakeholder engagement framework. The framework has been designed to ensure that voices across the disability sector (disabled people and their communities and organisations, charities, business leaders) are meaningfully considered throughout the development, implementation and evaluation of the DU’s work, from the earliest opportunity. The framework centres on the DU’s relationship with four major stakeholder groups: • Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) Forum England - Since spring 2022, representatives from DPO Forum England have met DU officials monthly, and the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work quarterly, to discuss the Forum’s views, questions, or concerns about specific government policies and their impact on disabled people. The DU also connects the Forum to colleagues in other departments. Recent examples of this include the development of the Retained EU Law Act, DWP’s consultation on Workplace Capability Assessments, the government’s #AskDontAssume disability perceptions campaign, and DHSC’s Care And Support statutory guidance. • Regional Stakeholder Network (RSN) - Each RSN Chair meets one-to-one with a DU official every six weeks. The entire Chair cohort meets the DU monthly to discuss and compare issues within their regions and to hear information to cascade to the wider RSN membership. The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work meets RSN Chairs quarterly to understand regional issues facing disabled people across England. The DU also connects RSN Chairs to colleagues in other departments. Recent examples of this include an accessibility assessment of King Charles III’s Coronation, our #AskDontAssume disability perceptions campaign, the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), and DWP’s Autism Employment Review. In addition to these and other groups like the Disability Charities Consortium and Disability and Access Ambassadors, the DU regularly undertakes visits, engages with disabled individuals, and plans new initiatives such as disabled people’s experience panels to further enhance policy development and understanding.