Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 18
18
People with health and disability issues continue to face major challenges in the workplace, including...
Conclusion
People with health and disability issues continue to face major challenges in the workplace, including issues around workplace accessibility, negative attitudes, and a lack of assistive technology.51 In 2017, the Department, alongside the Department of Health & Social Care, set a goal of getting 1 million more disabled people into work in the 10 years to 2027, however the National Audit Office pointed out in 2019 that the movement towards such a goal could not be linked directly to any particular government policy, and that any such movement was likely to be due to more people already in work reporting a disability than more disabled people moving into work.52 The Department told us however that it had made good progress towards this goal until the pandemic hit, and that as we come out of the pandemic the Department wanted to “redouble our efforts” to support disabled people.53
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4a: PAC Recommendation: The Department must now use the consultation and the Health and Disability Green Paper to clarify how it will support disabled people and people with health conditions, and publish the National Disability Strategy. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 The National Disability Strategy was published on 28 July 2021. It includes wide- ranging measures to support disabled people in employment and to progress. A range of Department for Work and Pensions initiatives are supporting disabled people to stay in and enter work including the Work and Health Programme, the Intensive Personalised 19 Employment Support programme, Access to Work, Disability Confident and support in partnership with the health system, including Employment Advice in National Health Service Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services. 4.3 The department is committed to supporting individuals in low-paid work to increase their earnings or move into better paid work.