Fulfilling Potential

Esther McVey Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd July 2013 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Esther McVey)]

Further to the publication of “Fulfilling Potential—Next Steps” on 17 September 2012, I am delighted to announce that later today I will publish “Fulfilling Potential—Making it Happen” which sets out the Government’s plans for delivering on our ambition, that disabled people should be enabled to achieve their aspirations and play a full role in society. It also shows how disabled people are seeing improvements in many key outcomes and reduced inequalities with non-disabled people.

“Fulfilling Potential—Making it Happen” emphasises the need for innovative cross-sector partnerships with disabled people and their organisations and promotes new ways of working to deliver improved outcomes. It underscores the Government’s commitment to the UN convention on the rights of disabled people to bring about the changes needed in communities that have a real and lasting effect on the day-to-day lives of disabled people.

It harnesses the inspirational power of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games—aiming to deliver further lasting change to attitudes and aspirations.

Our action plan captures activity and plans across the whole of Government and beyond. It sets out clearly in one place where progress has been made and also where we are encouraging and supporting the innovative work of the disability action alliance, and disabled people’s user-led organisations.

Delivery on the Government commitments in the action plan will be driven by the fulfilling potential strategy group of senior officials and overseen and reviewed by the Social Justice Cabinet Committee. We will also develop new arrangements for engaging disabled people and disability organisations in this process, and will publish an annual report on the outcomes and indicators set out in the document.

I will place a copy of the document in the Library.