Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Penny Mordaunt and Steve McCabe

Monday 20th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. This is about people being able to reach their full potential and make use of all the benefits that come with having a pay packet—all those opportunities and that choice. Employers have a huge role to play. I have been very encouraged by the results of the consultation, particularly from employers wanting to do more, and we must ensure that they have the tools and expertise to do more.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

T3. As part of the Government’s welcome proposal to halve the disability employment gap, will the Minister ensure that a work support plan is in place before a disabled person is made a job offer, thus increasing the chances of success and reducing the risk of wrongly applied sanctions or accusations that the person does not want a job?

[Penny Mordaunt]

This consultation affords us an opportunity to look at a person’s whole journey. Generalising, the earlier someone can have a conversation with somebody about their ambitions and the support they will need, the better that journey will be, so I totally agree with the hon. Gentleman.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Penny Mordaunt and Steve McCabe

Monday 17th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

In addition to the Disability Confident scheme, we are trialling the small employer offer, which will provide some additional support to those who may have less capacity within their own organisation. We are also working closely with the Health and Safety Executive, with its reach to SMEs, to target our services better.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

Recent analysis suggests that as well as an employment gap, there is a wage gap of about 13% between disabled workers and their non-disabled counterparts. What is the Minister going to do to raise employers’ awareness of this abuse?