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1674328

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2023
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Health Services: Visual Impairment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps with (a) the Royal National Institute of Blind People, (b) local sight loss councils and (c) other third sector organisations to undertake a review of the effectiveness of non-clinical support services for people living with sight loss.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	4733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2023 answer text <p>We do not currently have any such plans. Commissioning of sight loss services takes place at a local level based on the needs of the local population. As set out in the Care Act 2014, local authorities are responsible for assessing the care needs of individuals with sight loss and making steps to meet any eligible needs. Eligible needs are those which significantly impact on the individual’s wellbeing, for example, maintaining personal hygiene and nutrition. If a person does not meet the eligibility threshold, they can get support from their local authority in making their own arrangements for care services.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 05/12/2023 12:36:36 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1674353

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2023
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Health Services: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England plans to publish the revised Accessible Information Standard.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	4738
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2023 answer text <p>NHS England remains committed to publishing the revised Accessible Information Standard (AIS) as soon as possible. Work is underway to ensure that, when published, the AIS and supporting documentation are available in accessible formats.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 07/12/2023 12:37:09 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1673143

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Disability: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that companies are upholding their legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 on the implementation of reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	3938
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 places a general duty on employers and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people access to goods and services and access and remain in employment, so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people.</p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act and providing guidance on reasonable adjustments. For example, the EHRC provides a range of guidance for businesses on their legal duties to assistance dog owners:</p><p><a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/take-the-lead-welcoming-customers-with-assistance-dogs_0.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/take-the-lead-welcoming-customers-with-assistance-dogs_0.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The EHRC also provide further guidance on reasonable workplace adjustments:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/guidance/business/employing-people-workplace-adjustments" target="_blank">https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/guidance/business/employing-people-workplace-adjustments</a></p><p> </p><p>Duties and protections under the Equality Act are ultimately enforceable through the courts, and anybody who thinks that they have been discriminated against - for example for being refused a job interview or where access to an assistance dog has been refused - can take legal action to seek to resolve the issue, at an employment tribunal (employment cases) or other civil court (non-employment cases).</p><p> </p><p>A person who believes that they have experienced discrimination because of disability can take their case to a tribunal or court. Before doing so, they may wish to contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), a Government-funded helpline, is the initial point of contact for anyone with discrimination concerns. The EASS provides free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns. The EASS also supports individuals to resolve issues using alternative informal dispute resolution and can advise you on what are the next steps to take when you feel you have been discriminated against. The EASS can also advise people on their options and can be contacted through their website at www.equalityadvisoryservice.com, by telephone on 0808 800 0082 or text phone on 0808 800 0084.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 30/11/2023 16:24:12 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1673144

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Employment: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Government's consultation on Disability workforce reporting, published on 16 December 2021, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring companies with more than 250 employees to publish annual data on the number of disabled people they employ as a proportion of their workforce; and when he plans to respond to that consultation.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	3939
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2023 answer text <p>Following the judgement from the Court of Appeal that the National Disability Strategy is lawful, work has recommenced on disability workforce reporting. Analysis of the consultation is underway and we will publish the findings and next steps in 2024.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 3940 question first answered 29/11/2023 12:54:08 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1673146

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Employment: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to require companies with more than 250 employees to publish data annually on (a) their disability pay gap and (b) the proportion of disabled employees within each pay quartile.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	3940
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2023 answer text <p>Following the judgement from the Court of Appeal that the National Disability Strategy is lawful, work has recommenced on disability workforce reporting. Analysis of the consultation is underway and we will publish the findings and next steps in 2024.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 3939 question first answered 29/11/2023 12:54:08 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1673154

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to increase funding for the Access to Work scheme in (a) 2023-24, (b) 2025-26 and (c) 2026-27.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	3941
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>The funding for Access to Work has increased in 2023/24 compared to the 2022/23 outturn. Funding provision for 2024/2025, 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 is yet to be finalised.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 04/12/2023 12:01:06 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1673160

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of Access to Work applications (a) were (i) approved and (ii) rejected and (b) given 100% of award in each year since 2021 to 2023 as of 27 November.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	3942
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>What proportion of Access to Work applications (a) were (i) approved and (ii) rejected</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Approved</p></td><td><p>Not Approved</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-21</p></td><td><p>75.20%</p></td><td><p>24.80%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-21</p></td><td><p>72.40%</p></td><td><p>27.60%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-21</p></td><td><p>69.70%</p></td><td><p>30.30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-21</p></td><td><p>71.10%</p></td><td><p>28.90%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-21</p></td><td><p>73.00%</p></td><td><p>27.00%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-21</p></td><td><p>72.30%</p></td><td><p>27.70%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-21</p></td><td><p>70.50%</p></td><td><p>29.50%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-21</p></td><td><p>69.00%</p></td><td><p>31.00%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-21</p></td><td><p>66.10%</p></td><td><p>33.90%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-22</p></td><td><p>70.60%</p></td><td><p>29.40%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-22</p></td><td><p>72.20%</p></td><td><p>27.80%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-22</p></td><td><p>71.80%</p></td><td><p>28.20%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-22</p></td><td><p>78.70%</p></td><td><p>21.30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-22</p></td><td><p>68.90%</p></td><td><p>31.10%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-22</p></td><td><p>66.50%</p></td><td><p>33.50%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-22</p></td><td><p>65.60%</p></td><td><p>34.40%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-22</p></td><td><p>65.60%</p></td><td><p>34.40%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-22</p></td><td><p>66.10%</p></td><td><p>33.90%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-22</p></td><td><p>63.90%</p></td><td><p>36.10%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-22</p></td><td><p>65.10%</p></td><td><p>34.90%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-22</p></td><td><p>65.40%</p></td><td><p>34.60%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-23</p></td><td><p>67.20%</p></td><td><p>32.80%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-23</p></td><td><p>69.00%</p></td><td><p>31.00%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-23</p></td><td><p>69.70%</p></td><td><p>30.30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-23</p></td><td><p>71.40%</p></td><td><p>28.60%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-23</p></td><td><p>72.70%</p></td><td><p>27.30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-23</p></td><td><p>71.10%</p></td><td><p>28.90%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-23</p></td><td><p>68.10%</p></td><td><p>31.90%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-23</p></td><td><p>71.70%</p></td><td><p>28.30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-23</p></td><td><p>70.70%</p></td><td><p>29.30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-23</p></td><td><p>70.30%</p></td><td><p>29.70%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><em>Please note that the not approved includes rejections, advice provided, no contact, no evidence, not eligible, not pursued, and closed other.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution. </em></p><p> </p><p><strong>(b) given 100% of award in each year since 2021 to 2023</strong></p><p> </p><p>The information requested about Access to Work applications that have been made in England, Wales and Scotland is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Access to Work statistics includes how many applications result in provision being approved from 2007/08 to 2021/22. Please see Table 3 of the Access to Work statistics.</p><p> </p><p>The latest Access to Work statistics can be found here:</p><p>.<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-to-work-statistics" target="_blank">Access to Work statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).      </a></p><p> </p><p>The information requested about Access to Work applications that have been made in England, Wales and Scotland is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Access to Work statistics includes how many applications result in provision being approved from 2007/08 to 2021/22. Please see Table 3 of the Access to Work statistics.</p><p> </p><p>The latest Access to Work statistics can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-to-work-statistics" target="_blank">Access to Work statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).      </a></p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 04/12/2023 12:07:09 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1673162

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's response to the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors Consultation, published in November 2023, what his planned timetable is for publishing an equality impact assessment on proposals for changes to the eligibility criteria for the (a) Limited Capability for Work and Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity categories within universal credit and (b) Work-Related Activity Group and Support Group within Employment Support Allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	3943
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>We published our response to the consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment criteria on 22 November, having carefully considered feedback from disabled people, and people with health conditions, as well as the organisations that represent and support them.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation was open from 5 September to 30 October 2023. This gave ample time for people to share their views. We undertook extensive engagement during the consultation period and received over 1,300 responses. We listened carefully to what people told us and took their views into account when deciding about which changes to take forward.</p><p> </p><p>We also did a lot of work to make sure disabled people could share their views. We provided the consultation document in a range of accessible formats, including large print, Easy Read, Braille, Audio, BSL and hard copy versions. We ran a programme of in-person and virtual public events, so that people could share their views verbally and offered a range of methods to enable people to respond in writing, including online, by email or by post.</p><p>We will publish an Impact Assessment in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The OBR have said that they expect these changes to mean that 371,000 fewer people will be declared as having Limited Capability for Work Related Activity by 2028/29 than otherwise would be the case. HMT have published the impacts in their policy costing note that accompanies the Autumn Statement.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 3945 3946 question first answered 30/11/2023 15:31:33 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1673164

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance: Employment Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy that existing claimants are not included in further potential reviews into eligibility for the (a) Limited Capability for Work and Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity categories within Universal Credit and (b) the Work-Related Activity Group and Support Group within Employment and Support Allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	3944
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>As we have set out clearly in the Government response to the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors Consultation (CP 973), through a new ‘Chance to Work Guarantee’, in 2025 we will effectively abolish the WCA for most existing Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) claimants who are not expected to look for, or prepare for, work. This will remove the fear of reassessments and give people the confidence to try work, while providing continuity of service for vulnerable claimants.</p><p> </p><p>For claimants in the LCWRA Group in Universal Credit (UC) and the Support Group in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), reassessments will only take place under very limited circumstances, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>When a claimant reports a change of circumstances in their health condition;</li><li>If a claimant has been awarded LCWRA for pregnancy risk, or cancer treatment where the prognosis for recovery is expected to be short-term;</li><li>If a claimant has been declared as having LCWRA under the new risk provisions; and</li><li>In the case of suspected fraud.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Existing LCW claimants will be called for reassessment as normal depending on their circumstances, including their prognosis period and available capacity in the system.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 30/11/2023 15:19:57 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1673166

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will hold a new 12 week consultation on proposed changes to the Work Capability Assessment that (a) clearly set outs the potential impact of those changes on groups affected by those proposals and (b) is provided in a format that is accessible to those groups.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	3945
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2023 answer text <p>We published our response to the consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment criteria on 22 November, having carefully considered feedback from disabled people, and people with health conditions, as well as the organisations that represent and support them.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation was open from 5 September to 30 October 2023. This gave ample time for people to share their views. We undertook extensive engagement during the consultation period and received over 1,300 responses. We listened carefully to what people told us and took their views into account when deciding about which changes to take forward.</p><p> </p><p>We also did a lot of work to make sure disabled people could share their views. We provided the consultation document in a range of accessible formats, including large print, Easy Read, Braille, Audio, BSL and hard copy versions. We ran a programme of in-person and virtual public events, so that people could share their views verbally and offered a range of methods to enable people to respond in writing, including online, by email or by post.</p><p>We will publish an Impact Assessment in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The OBR have said that they expect these changes to mean that 371,000 fewer people will be declared as having Limited Capability for Work Related Activity by 2028/29 than otherwise would be the case. HMT have published the impacts in their policy costing note that accompanies the Autumn Statement.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 3943 3946 question first answered 30/11/2023 15:31:33 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova