Employment Gap for Blind and Sight-impaired People

Baroness Watkins of Tavistock Excerpts

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sherlock (Lab)]

I have always known the noble Lord as a good European—I am glad to hear him speaking up for the European Parliament today. To be honest, I am not sure we can use that as an excuse. We do not have to be made to do something to do it, and the House should look at it.

[Baroness Watkins of Tavistock (CB)]

My Lords, I had an aunt who was blind from birth, was funded to train as a physiotherapist—that was on careers advice at school—and worked for 43 years full-time. Is consideration being given to ensure that young people who have long-term permanent sight problems get the right career advice?

[Baroness Sherlock (Lab)]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness. Like her, I have had the benefit of a physio- therapist who is herself blind and is very good indeed. The noble Baroness makes an important point. We have been working really hard with our colleagues who work with the young people who come in. The reason we try to have tailored advice is to work out what works for that person. Just because it worked for the noble Baroness’s aunt, it might not work for her next-door neighbour in the same circumstances. It is about trying to find out what somebody is able to do, wants to do and has a passion for, and how we can give them skills and support.

One of the great joys of having my noble friend Lady Smith join us as Minister for Skills in the DWP as well as the DfE, getting the remit for adult skills, is that it is helpful to join up what we are doing to try to find opportunities for and support individuals, with them having the skills to enable them to follow through on that.