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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

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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
10 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Deferred

DWP should reimagine fundamentally how it provides employment support to disabled people.

DWP should reimagine fundamentally how it provides employment support to disabled people. We recommend that DWP should carry out a significant expansion of the number of Devolved Deal Areas, granting more powers to local authorities to set up their own localised version of the Work and Health Programme. Any devolution … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response defers action by stating that the evaluation results of Health-Led Trials are due in 2022, which will provide an assessment of their impact. In the meantime, it is funding the continuation of IPS services in trial areas, rather than committing to expanding …
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Department for Work and Pensions
19 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Deferred

The introduction of an online information hub for employers is an initial step in the...

The introduction of an online information hub for employers is an initial step in the right direction. We urge the Government to ensure that its information and advice service goes live as planned no later than August 2021. DWP must ensure that this hub contains clear guidance for employers about … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it will review and strengthen the Disability Confident scheme (Levels 2 and 3) by working with key stakeholders and commissioning an employer insight survey, rather than directly committing to the specific content of an online information hub or considering punitive measures as …
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Department for Work and Pensions
35 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Deferred

The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is not fit for purpose.

The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is not fit for purpose. The fact that a majority of appeals against fit for work decisions are successful is evidence that it is not achieving its aim of supporting disabled people who can and want to work into employment. The assessment process can also … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that detailed proposals for reforming the WCA will be brought forward in a White Paper in 2022, following analysis of responses to the Green Paper.
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Department for Work and Pensions
36 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Deferred

Sanctions can have a negative impact not only on disabled people’s employment prospects, but on...

Sanctions can have a negative impact not only on disabled people’s employment prospects, but on their overall wellbeing. The Minister told us that the conditionality regime forms part of a “menu of support” and that sanctions are only used as a last resort, but even he acknowledged that it is … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has paused its proof of concept work for a warning system related to sanctions, and states that detailed proposals regarding conditionality, engagement, and sanctions will be brought forward in a White Paper in mid-2022 following analysis of Green Paper responses.
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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…