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

24 items
3 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We recommend that the Government adopt a target with two elements: closing the disability employment...

We recommend that the Government adopt a target with two elements: closing the disability employment gap and increasing the number of disabled people in work. It should re-adopt its previous target of halving the disability employment gap. Alongside this, it should adopt a new, more ambitious absolute target aimed at … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response details existing ONS and DWP/DHSC data publications on employment outcomes for disabled people, including autism. It does not address the recommendation to adopt new or re-adopt previous specific disability employment targets, or to include such plans in the National Strategy for Disabled …
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Department for Work and Pensions
4 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

In isolation, however, even the measures underlying this target do not give a full picture...

In isolation, however, even the measures underlying this target do not give a full picture of the Government’s progress on disability employment or disabled people’s experiences of work. Instead of relying on a single measure, the Government should collect data against a set of indicators. It should continue to monitor … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government notes that data on employment, disability, and impairment type is already collected in the Family Resources Survey (FRS) but does not commit to collecting the additional specific indicators recommended, such as the Prevented from Working by Disability measure or new job quality metrics.
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Department for Work and Pensions
5 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We welcome the fact that questions about autism have been added to the ONS Labour...

We welcome the fact that questions about autism have been added to the ONS Labour Force Survey, which will enable the Government to collect more detailed data about autistic people’s experiences of work. The Government should commit to publishing this data as soon as possible. It should also set out … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details a forthcoming consultation on workforce reporting on disability for large employers but does not commit to publishing the ONS Labour Force Survey data on autism or collecting more data on other impairment groups as recommended.
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Department for Work and Pensions
6 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

The ONS’ Labour Force Survey (LFS) is currently unable to capture how people affected by...

The ONS’ Labour Force Survey (LFS) is currently unable to capture how people affected by the same broad symptom groups, such as energy limitation, are in employment. This is because the questions in the survey focus on medical diagnosis rather than symptoms. We recommend that DWP should work with the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response outlines general strategies for supporting disabled people in employment and addressing pay gaps, including the In-Work Progression Commission and Universal Credit changes, but it does not address the specific recommendation for DWP to work with ONS to collect symptom-based employment data in …
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Department for Work and Pensions
7 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

Mandatory reporting, which would require employers to publish data about the number of disabled people...

Mandatory reporting, which would require employers to publish data about the number of disabled people they employ, could be a highly effective way of holding employers to account and driving forward progress on closing the disability employment gap. This data will only be accurate if employees feel comfortable disclosing their … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response focuses on assessing the effectiveness of the Work and Health Programme and committing to fund a Local Supported Employment service with local authorities. It does not address the committee's recommendation to require larger employers to publish data on the proportion of their …
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Department for Work and Pensions
8 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We are not yet persuaded, however, that requiring employers to report data on the “disability...

We are not yet persuaded, however, that requiring employers to report data on the “disability pay gap” is the right way forward. We share the Minister’s concern that this data could risk giving a misleading impression of employers who have made genuine progress in recruiting more disabled people, but where … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details various employment support initiatives delivered through Jobcentres, including training, Skills Bootcamps, and Sector-based Work Academy Programmes. It does not address the committee's recommendation for setting ambitious and timed targets to reduce the disability pay gap.
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Department for Work and Pensions
11 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

The default position should be that groups of local authorities, perhaps based on the recently-defined...

The default position should be that groups of local authorities, perhaps based on the recently-defined NHS integrated care system boundaries, where they have the will and capacity to do so, are responsible for delivering employment support for disabled people. DWP should provide funding and support to enable them to do … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details DWP's policies and improvements regarding communication accessibility for disabled claimants, such as Video Relay Service and accessible forms, but does not address the recommendation to devolve employment support for disabled people to local authorities.
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Department for Work and Pensions
12 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

Locally-commissioned employment support will require close working between local government and a variety of partners,...

Locally-commissioned employment support will require close working between local government and a variety of partners, including the NHS. Integrated care systems (ICSs) have an important role to play in strengthening these partnerships. The Government’s ambition is for every area in England to be covered by an ICS. ICSs already bring … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details training and resources for Jobcentre staff and Disability Employment Advisers but does not address the recommendation to expand the role of Integrated Care Systems in commissioning localised employment support for disabled people.
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Department for Work and Pensions
14 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

It is unacceptable that some disabled people still face barriers when trying to access services...

It is unacceptable that some disabled people still face barriers when trying to access services through Jobcentre Plus. It is particularly shocking that services provided by the Department for Work and Pensions, whose ministerial team includes the Minister for Disabled People and which is responsible for a significant proportion of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response focuses on an early version of a service to support employers managing health and disability in the workplace, alongside existing schemes like Disability Confident and Acas resources. It does not address the specific recommendations regarding improving accessibility of Jobcentre Plus premises, services, …
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Department for Work and Pensions
15 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We heard that more needs to be done to improve the way a disabled person’s...

We heard that more needs to be done to improve the way a disabled person’s communication preferences are recorded by Jobcentre Plus. DWP should take inspiration from the Accessible Information Standard model used in the NHS and create an automated process which can record a disabled person’s preferred communication method … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response focuses on promoting Access to Work, publishing statistics, and trialling an online payment claims journey, but it does not address the recommendation to improve the recording of disabled persons' communication preferences by Jobcentre Plus using an automated process.
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Department for Work and Pensions
16 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We welcome the fact that the Department has increased the number of Disability Employment Advisers...

We welcome the fact that the Department has increased the number of Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) in Jobcentres. DEAs can provide specialist support to disabled people in a way that generalist Work Coaches do not, and the increase in numbers will go some way to addressing the fall in the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details improvements to the Access to Work digital customer service, including speeding up payments and improving accessibility. It does not address the committee's recommendations regarding Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) or Jobcentre Plus staff training.
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Department for Work and Pensions
17 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We welcome the fact that DWP already encourages providers of some of its disability support...

We welcome the fact that DWP already encourages providers of some of its disability support schemes to adopt job carving as part of their support to participants. The Department, however, should do more to support and encourage employers to adopt job carving practices when recruiting a person with a disability. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details the piloting of a personalised Adjustment Passport to support disabled individuals in employment transitions by recording workplace adjustments, but it does not address the recommendation to promote job carving practices among employers or provide guidance on it.
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Department for Work and Pensions
18 Conclusion Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We heard from disabled people and disability organisations that some employers simply don’t understand their...

We heard from disabled people and disability organisations that some employers simply don’t understand their legal obligations to provide reasonable adjustments, whilst others continue to flout the law deliberately. The way in which disability is defined in the Equality Act has also left some employers and employees unclear about how … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details improvements to the Access to Work scheme's customer service, channels, and digital functionality, but does not address the broader recommendation that the government should ensure employers understand their legal obligations regarding reasonable adjustments and the Equality Act.
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Department for Work and Pensions
20 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

Some disability organisations have spoken positively about the Access to Work scheme: when it works,...

Some disability organisations have spoken positively about the Access to Work scheme: when it works, it can be a vital source of support for disabled people in work. We have consistently heard, however, several reoccurring criticisms of the scheme from disability organisations and disabled people alike. We have heard that … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response discusses a review of the Disability Confident scheme and an employer insight survey, failing to address the recommendations regarding Access to Work, including publishing statistics quarterly, redesigning the application process, co-designing it, or reducing review frequency.
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Department for Work and Pensions
21 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

The Minister also told us that that the application process for Access to Work, which...

The Minister also told us that that the application process for Access to Work, which is currently paper-based, will undergo a “digital transformation” this year. This is long overdue, and we look forward to seeing how this work progresses. The Department must ensure, however, that as the service goes digital, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response outlines a review of the Disability Confident scheme, including its assessment levels and complaints process, but it does not address the recommendation to ensure support for people with low digital literacy during the digital transformation of the Access to Work application process.
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Department for Work and Pensions
22 Conclusion Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

Support from Access to Work is only available for disabled people once they have been...

Support from Access to Work is only available for disabled people once they have been offered a job. This means that disabled people who are looking for work face uncertainty about whether they will receive the support they need, should they find a job, and that if they do, there … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response details the commitments required from employers under the Disability Confident scheme and mentions a future review of the scheme's criteria, but it does not address the committee's conclusion regarding the uncertainty caused by Access to Work support only being available after a …
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Department for Work and Pensions
23 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

The Minister said that the Department intends to pilot “passports” for jobseekers from particular groups,...

The Minister said that the Department intends to pilot “passports” for jobseekers from particular groups, including students and veterans, which we welcome. These passports are intended to give job applicants certainty about what support they can receive through Access to Work before they have been offered a job. We recommend … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response outlines work following the "Health is Everyone's Business" consultation, focusing on improving access to Occupational Health for SMEs and the self-employed, including plans for user research on financial incentives. It does not address the committee's recommendation to extend eligibility for Access to …
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Department for Work and Pensions
24 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

Our predecessor Committee recommended that the Department should improve the effectiveness of the Access to...

Our predecessor Committee recommended that the Department should improve the effectiveness of the Access to Work central call centre system. In response, the Department said that it recognised the importance of taking action to correct the issues with the system. We have heard, however, that problems accessing support through the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response discusses Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing work to review SSP, stating the pandemic was not the right time for broader changes. This response does not address the committee's recommendation regarding rectifying problems with …
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Department for Work and Pensions
25 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

To assess whether Disability Confident is meeting its objectives of increasing disability employment and changing...

To assess whether Disability Confident is meeting its objectives of increasing disability employment and changing employers’ attitudes and recruitment practices, our predecessor Committee recommended that DWP should commission an evaluation of Disability Confident by 2020. DWP accepted the recommendation and in July 2018 said that it was developing proposals for … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses flexible and hybrid working arrangements and related consultations and guidance, but it does not address the recommendation to urgently announce plans and a timetable for the evaluation of the Disability Confident scheme.
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Department for Work and Pensions
26 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

By the Department’s own admission, it is not possible to know whether Disability Confident is...

By the Department’s own admission, it is not possible to know whether Disability Confident is having any meaningful beneficial impact on the employment prospects of disabled people. As part of its evaluation, the Department should explore ways in which it can measure the success of the Disability Confident scheme. This … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details ONS analysis on COVID-19 deaths by disability status and occupation, which does not address the recommendation to evaluate the Disability Confident scheme's success, including mandatory reporting of disabled employees.
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Department for Work and Pensions
27 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

As part of its evaluation, to improve the effectiveness of the scheme, we recommend that...

As part of its evaluation, to improve the effectiveness of the scheme, we recommend that the Department should establish an independent body to carry out objective external assessments of Disability Confident employers at levels 2 and 3 to monitor whether they are fulfilling their obligations. The Department should consider what … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response describes the Kickstart and Restart schemes, their support for disabled participants, and monitoring efforts for these programs, but it does not address the recommendation to establish an independent body for external assessments of Disability Confident employers or to consider punitive measures for …
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Department for Work and Pensions
28 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We heard evidence that the Disability Confident Commitments (the criteria an employer must agree to...

We heard evidence that the Disability Confident Commitments (the criteria an employer must agree to in order to receive Level 1 accreditation) are not challenging 76 Disability employment gap enough for employers and focus too heavily on changing recruitment processes rather than committing employers to recruit and retain disabled employees. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response explains the payment model and incentives for the Restart Scheme, entirely failing to address the recommendation to review and strengthen the Disability Confident commitments and accreditation criteria to include a requirement for recruiting disabled people.
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Department for Work and Pensions
29 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

We welcome the publication of the Government’s response to the Health is everyone’s business consultation,...

We welcome the publication of the Government’s response to the Health is everyone’s business consultation, which closed in 2019. We look forward to scrutinising the Government’s proposals in greater detail, particularly on improving access to occupational health for people in smaller businesses, which may not have dedicated HR functions. We … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that detailed proposals from the Green Paper consultation will be brought forward in a White Paper in 2022, focusing on the benefits system and enabling people to work independently. This response does not provide the specific detail or timetable requested for testing …
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Department for Work and Pensions
30 Recommendation Second Report - Disability employment g… Not Addressed

It is disappointing that the Government has decided not to progress with plans for reforming...

It is disappointing that the Government has decided not to progress with plans for reforming Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). The Government acknowledges that there is clear support for SSP reform. The pandemic has highlighted some of the key weaknesses in the SSP system: notably, SSP is not available to two … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government describes the paused "Tailoring Up" approach for Universal Credit claimants and states that detailed proposals from the Green Paper consultation will be brought forward in a White Paper in mid-2022. This response does not specifically detail plans or timescales for reforming Statutory Sick …
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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…