Oral Answers to Questions

Angela Richardson Excerpts

Monday 9th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Will Quince]

Certainly—the breathing space policy is a prime example. If my hon. Friend would like to meet me or, indeed, the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman), who is the Minister for Pensions, we would be happy to do so to set out in more detail the action that the Government are taking.

[Angela Richardson (Guildford) (Con)]

4. What steps she is taking to support people with disabilities into employment.

[James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)]

11. What steps she is taking to support people with disabilities into employment.

[Angela Richardson]

I welcome the news that 16,000 employers have signed up to participate in the Disability Confident scheme, which a fantastic initiative that helps employers to unlock the talent of workers with disabilities and is changing attitudes for the better. What plans does my hon. Friend have to expand the scheme further and encourage more businesses to sign up?

[Justin Tomlinson]

I am pleased to report that as of last month we are at 17,353. We use Disability Confident to empower employers of all sizes to share best practice. Only last week, I met all the Health and Work programme providers to look at how they can work with those businesses that have signed up for Disability Confident to offer more opportunities for disabled people.