Disabled People: Independent Living

Baroness Thomas of Winchester Excerpts

Thursday 30th March 2017 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Thomas of Winchester]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support independent living for disabled people of working age.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Henley)]

My Lords, the Government believe that individuals should have the opportunity to work and realise the benefit of stable employment where they can, enabling them to live independently and fulfil their potential. We are therefore working to join up the health system, the welfare system and society more widely so that we focus on the strengths of people with disabilities or health conditions and what they can do.

[Baroness Thomas of Winchester (LD)]

I very much welcome that reply. The most important thing is that the infrastructure—such as enough care support and accessible transport—is got right around the country. Disabled people must have enough support. I wonder whether the Minister’s department will now agree to conduct a cumulative impact assessment on current government policies, which shows their effect on disabled people. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has offered its support and this should be taken up.