Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether an Access to Work scheme has been implemented in their Department.
Answered by George Freeman
From 1st April 2022, criteria for the Access to Work scheme and assessments changed and government departments have not been eligible to receive support from Access to Work. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology continues to support staff with requirements for reasonable adjustments due to disability or long-term health concern including for equipment, software and hardware, training, coaching and other reasonable adaptations. Specialist assessments are carried out as needed through the occupational health provider as per the flexible cross-government occupational health framework.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications of the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling in the 2017 case of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council v Willetts & Ors for the calculation of holiday pay entitlement for staff in her Department; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Department is aware of the ruling and will reflect the position in its policies. The Department is still working through the mechanics of the recent Machinery of Government change. This includes finalising which staff will be transferred into the Department. It is therefore not yet possible to accurately assess the impact on the Department.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps they have taken in their Department to operate the Disability Confident employer scheme for those seeking a lateral transfer; and how many and what proportion of candidates who declared themselves as having a disability and who applied under that scheme where (a) interviewed and (b) laterally transferred in (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was created following Machinery of Government changes announced on 7th February 2023 so we are not able to provide the requested data for 2021 and 2022.
It is standard practice within the Civil Service to operate the Disability Confident Scheme for candidates and the Department plans to continue this in future.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps they have taken to operate a disability confident scheme for those seeking promotion in their Department; and how many and what proportion of those candidates who declared themselves as having a disability and who applied under the scheme were (a) interviewed and (b) promoted in (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was created following Machinery of Government changes announced on 7th February 2023 so we are not able to provide the requested data for 2021 and 2022.
It is standard practice within the Civil Service to operate the Disability Confident Scheme for candidates and the department plans to continue this in future.