The Government is committed to reducing the disability employment gap and seeing a million more disabled people, regardless of gender, in work between 2017 and 2027.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Work and Health Programme is designed to help people, particularly people with disabilities, who need extra tailored support to find employment. The latest statistics for programme were published in November 2019, covering the period up to August 2019, and show that 29,300 women have started on the programme since it began to roll out across the country.<\/p>
<\/p>
The latest Access to Work statistics, published in August 2019 and covering the period up to March 2019, show that a record 22,030 women received support through the scheme.<\/p>
<\/p>
In December 2019 we launched the Intensive Personalised Employment Support Programme. This is a new, voluntary, contracted employment provision designed to help disabled people, regardless of gender, who have complex needs or barriers and who want to work.<\/p>
<\/p>
According to a report published in December 2019 by the Office for national Statistics, in 2019, the disability employment gap was 31.7 percentage points for men and 25.0 percentage points for women. The employment rate has risen more rapidly for disabled women between 2013 and 2019, increasing by 10.5 percentage points, compared with a 9.0 percentage point increase for disabled men.<\/p>
<\/p>
The full report may be viewed here:<\/p>
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/bulletins/disabilityandemploymentuk/2019#sex<\/a><\/p> <\/em><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help women with disabilities into work.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4638", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1172984", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1172984/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We are working to ensure that a Learning Difficulty or Disability (LDD) is not a barrier to people who want to realise the benefits that an apprenticeship offers or to employers who want to make a long-term investment in the skills they need to grow. We have seen increases in the proportion of apprenticeship starts by people declaring an LDD in recent years, rising to 12% of starts in 2018/19 from 11.2% in 2017/18 and 10.3% in 2016/17.<\/p> To ensure that employers are supported to create new apprenticeship opportunities, we provide targeted financial support directly to training providers to help remove barriers for people with a LDD. This includes paying £150 a month to providers for additional support. In specific circumstances, this amount can rise to a maximum of £19,000 per year where necessary. Providers and employers recruiting an apprentice aged 19 to 24 with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) receive an additional payment of £1000. We also pay 100% of the cost of training for small employers with fewer than 50 employees who take on apprentices who have an EHCP. Disabled apprentices may also receive help from Access to Work to pay for workplace adaptations, job coaches, transport, special equipment and other forms of support.<\/p> We are also prioritising sharing good practice. Our Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network has grown to 75 members and brings together employers committed to improving diversity in their apprenticeship programmes, including for those with disabilities:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/apprenticeship-diversity-champions-network<\/a>.<\/p> We have integrated the Department for Work and Pensions Disability Confident campaign into the apprenticeship recruitment service. Therefore, the Disability Confident logo is displayed on apprenticeship vacancies for registered employers.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4530", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michelle Donelan"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michelle Donelan"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Apprentices: Disability"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to encourage more employers to offer apprenticeships to people with disabilities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4638", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1172985", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1172985/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " All employees with 26 weeks\u2019 continuous service with their employer have the right to request Flexible Working.<\/p> <\/p> The Government wants to take this further and, subject to further consultation, we will look to introduce steps in an employment bill to make flexible working the default - unless employers have good reason not to.<\/p> <\/p> The Government\u202fhas also consulted on proposals for large employers (with over 250 employees)\u202fto publish their\u202fparental leave and pay and\u202fflexible working\u202fpolicies and to advertise jobs as open to flexible working.\u202f We are considering next steps.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Working"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to encourage employers to offer flexible working to their employees.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4638", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1172989", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1172989/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The number of older people in employment is at near-record high. There are now 10.6 million workers aged 50 and over, compared to 9.1 million five years ago. Employment level for women aged 50 and over is currently 5 million.<\/p> <\/p> To support women to remain and return to the labour market, the Government has removed the Default Retirement Age, meaning that most people can choose when to retire and extended the right to flexible working beyond carers, to all employees with 26 weeks\u2019 continuous service with their employer.<\/p> <\/p> In February 2017, the Government published our Fuller Working Lives strategy which set out the role employers, individuals and government can play in supporting older workers. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf<\/a><\/p> Additionally, we appointed a Business Champion for Older Workers to engage and influence employers on a practical and strategic level, promoting the benefits of an older workforce.<\/p> <\/p> Through the National Retraining Partnership, a partnership between Government, the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress, Government is developing the National Retraining Scheme. The National Retraining Scheme will help prepare adults for future changes to the economy, including those brought about by automation, to help them retrain into better jobs.<\/p> <\/p> In February last year, DWP launched our online mid-life MOT page which encourages more active planning in the key areas of work, wellbeing and finances. https://www.yourpension.gov.uk/mid-life-mot/<\/a><\/p> <\/p>