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Select Committee · Work and Pensions Committee

Disability employment gap

Status: Closed Opened: 3 Nov 2020 Closed: 2 Feb 2022 33 recommendations 5 conclusions 1 report

The Committee investigated the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people and how the Department for Work and Pensions can better support disabled people in the labour market. We focussed on: Trends in the disability employment gap The economic impact of low employment rates for disabled people The assistance available to help … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Disability employment gap HC 189 30 Jul 2021 38 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
2 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Accepted

There is broad support for the premise that the Government should have a target for...

There is broad support for the premise that the Government should have a target for improving disabled people’s employment rates. Views about what that target should be, however, differ. Both absolute and relative targets have drawbacks. Although the overall number of disabled people in work has increased since 2013, this … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government describes its existing methods for monitoring disability employment and states its commitment to improving data, but does not commit to adopting a new target that combines both absolute and relative elements as recommended.
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Department for Work and Pensions
9 Conclusion Second Report - Disability employment g… Accepted

There is evidence that localised support, which is often delivered by small, specialist providers, helps...

There is evidence that localised support, which is often delivered by small, specialist providers, helps disabled people get into and stay in work. All too often, however, 72 Disability employment gap disabled people are reliant on large, national programmes, or on discretionary, ad hoc support provided by Jobcentre Plus. Neither … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government highlights the work of Employment Advisers in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services, supporting thousands of people into employment, and the Health and Care Bill's proposal to create Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) which will address employment at a local level. These initiatives …
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Department for Work and Pensions
32 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Accepted

There is no clear evidence which explains why disabled people have a considerably raised risk...

There is no clear evidence which explains why disabled people have a considerably raised risk of death from coronavirus. There is a need for further research to investigate the extent to which disabled people’s experiences in the workplace may play a part in this. We recommend that DWP work with … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that analysis has already been undertaken by the ONS regarding the association between disability and COVID-19 deaths, and separately, occupational risk, implying no further research is needed as recommended.
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Department for Work and Pensions
34 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Accepted

DWP must demonstrate that lessons have been learnt from previous schemes and ensure that the...

DWP must demonstrate that lessons have been learnt from previous schemes and ensure that the payment model used in Restart does not disincentivise providers from supporting those who are furthest away from the labour market, including some disabled people. Although Restart will not be a specialist disability programme, some disabled … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government explains that the Restart Scheme's existing payment model, which includes a delivery fee, outcome payments, and an accelerator model, is designed to incentivise providers to support all participants, including those furthest from the labour market.
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Department for Work and Pensions

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
19 May 2021 Angus Gray · Department for Work & Pensions, John Paul Marks · Department for Work and Pensions, Justin Tomlinson MP · Department for Work and Pensions View ↗
28 Apr 2021 Catherine Hale · Chronic Illness Inclusion Project, Daniel Jennings · Epilepsy Action, Martin Sigsworth · Pocklington Trust, Professor Karen Walker-Bone · National Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, Versus Arthritis, Rob Geaney · Royal National Institute for Deaf People, Sarah Rawlings · MS Society View ↗
24 Mar 2021 Angela Matthews · Business Disability Forum, Clare Gray · Shaw Trust, Huw Davies · British Association for Supported Employment, Matthew Ainsworth · Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Matthew Oakley · Social Metrics Commission, The Lord Shinkwin · The Centre for Social Justice Disability Commission View ↗
10 Mar 2021 Alex Kennedy · Rethink Mental Illness, David Stephenson · Mind, Dr Jed Boardman · Centre for Mental Health, Jane Harris · National Autistic Society, Lorenzo Torre · Three Cs, Matthew Harrison · The Royal Mencap Society View ↗
24 Feb 2021 Ben Baumberg Geiger · University of Kent, Dr Mark Bryan · University of Sheffield, Fazilet Hadi · Disability Rights UK, Gemma Hope · Leonard Cheshire, James Taylor · Scope, Professor Melanie Jones · Cardiff Business School, Tom Pollard · New Economics Foundation View ↗
20 Jan 2021 Dame Carol Black, Joshua Reddaway · National Audit Office View ↗

Who gave evidence

30 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alex Kennedy · Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs Rethink Mental Illness 1
Angela Matthews · Head of Policy and Research Business Disability Forum 1
Angus Gray · Director and SRO for the Restart Scheme Department for Work & Pensions 1
Ben Baumberg Geiger · Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy University of Kent 1
Catherine Hale · Director Chronic Illness Inclusion Project 1
Clare Gray · Organisational Lead for Disability Advocacy Shaw Trust 1
Dame Carol Black — 1
Daniel Jennings · Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer Epilepsy Action 1
David Stephenson · Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer Mind 1
Dr Jed Boardman · Consultant Psychiatrist/Senior Lecturer in Social… Centre for Mental Health 1
Dr Mark Bryan · Reader in Economics University of Sheffield 1
Fazilet Hadi · Policy Manager Disability Rights UK 1
Gemma Hope · Director of Policy Leonard Cheshire 1
Huw Davies · Chief Executive British Association for Supported Employment 1
James Taylor · Executive Director, Strategy, Impact and Social C… Scope 1
Jane Harris · Director of External Affairs and Social Change National Autistic Society 1
John Paul Marks · Director General for Work and Health Services Department for Work and Pensions 1
Joshua Reddaway · Director National Audit Office 1
Justin Tomlinson MP · Minister of State (Minister for Disabled People, … Department for Work and Pensions 1
Lorenzo Torre · Job Coach Three Cs 1
Martin Sigsworth · Senior Employment Manager Pocklington Trust 1
Matthew Ainsworth · Assistant Director of Education, Skills & Work Greater Manchester Combined Authority 1
Matthew Harrison · Public Affairs and Parliamentary Manager The Royal Mencap Society 1
Matthew Oakley · Secretariat Social Metrics Commission 1
Professor Karen Walker-Bone · Director National Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, Versus Arthritis 1
Professor Melanie Jones · Professor of Economics Cardiff Business School 1
Rob Geaney · Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs Royal National Institute for Deaf People 1
Sarah Rawlings · Executive Director of Research & External Affairs MS Society 1
The Lord Shinkwin · Chair The Centre for Social Justice Disability Commission 1
Tom Pollard · Head of Social Policy New Economics Foundation 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
11 Jun 2021 From cttee A letter to the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work following up on t…