Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: full Report
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 1050
Published 22 December 2020
Government response
Fourth Special Report: Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report · published 14 Apr 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 26
The Government’s focus on people defined as “clinically extremely vulnerable” (CEV) to the virus, while...
Conclusion
The Government’s focus on people defined as “clinically extremely vulnerable” (CEV) to the virus, while rational from a medical perspective, was an inappropriate proxy for the need for support with access to food and had unintended consequences. It was rapidly …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it will ask disabled people about the impact of the coronavirus emergency and, if requested, will include a plan for fair food access in emergencies in the National Strategy for Disabled People.
Government Equalities Office
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3
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 27
We welcome the steps the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has taken to emphasise...
Recommendation
We welcome the steps the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has taken to emphasise that food retailers’ legal obligations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people have remained in place throughout the pandemic. We fully endorse its new guidance …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it has checked its efforts to ensure fair food access for disabled people, made some changes, and will continue to monitor and adjust, but does not commit to publicly stating the importance of reasonable adjustments or promoting EHRC guidance as recommended.
Government Equalities Office
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15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 104
We welcome the Government’s educational catch up fund made up of £650 million to be...
Conclusion
We welcome the Government’s educational catch up fund made up of £650 million to be allocated across all schools and £350 million for pupils in more disadvantaged schools to access subsidised small group tutoring and mentoring.
Government Response Summary
The government responded that it would 'think about looking at what happened during the Coronavirus emergency afterwards', a vague statement that did not specifically engage with the committee's welcome of the educational catch-up fund.
Government Equalities Office
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17
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 112
There was a clear divergence of opinion between some disabled people and their organisations, who...
Recommendation
There was a clear divergence of opinion between some disabled people and their organisations, who felt excluded and ignored by the Government, and Ministers, who described their engagement with disabled stakeholders during the pandemic as very positive, open and effective. …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of disabled people influencing policies and outlines existing engagement methods, stating they will consider this input for the UK National Strategy for Disabled People, but does not commit to new consultation mechanisms.
Government Equalities Office
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19
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 124
The accessibility of the Government’s communications to disabled people during the pandemic has been poor...
Recommendation
The accessibility of the Government’s communications to disabled people during the pandemic has been poor from the outset of lockdown in March. The Government has been far too slow to address concerns, notably about the lack of British Sign Language …
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Government Response Summary
The government states its desire for accessible information and its ongoing efforts to provide it in accessible ways, working with disability organizations, but does not commit to fully implementing the specific list of asks from RNID and other charities by the recommended deadline.
Government Equalities Office
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20
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 125
NHS health and publicly funded social care services are legally required, by the Accessible Information...
Recommendation
NHS health and publicly funded social care services are legally required, by the Accessible Information Standard, published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, to provide health and care information to patients and service users in …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of accessible information and states that departments already have legal obligations under other laws, with guidance provided by the Equality Hub, but does not commit to extending the Accessible Information Standard as requested.
Government Equalities Office
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