Oral Answers to Questions

Gary Streeter Excerpts

Monday 19th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

The hon. Gentleman will understand that a feasibility study and consultation are pending, but I will be happy to discuss the dashboard with him in more detail if he will bear with me. There is no question but that the thousands of people in his constituency who have had the benefit of auto-enrolment, and the many thousands of employers supporting those employees, will be benefiting from the process.

[Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon) (Con)]

7. What steps the Government have taken to support disabled people in Budget 2018.

[James Heappey (Wells) (Con)]

19. What steps the Government have taken to support disabled people in Budget 2018.

[The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah Newton)]

In the Budget, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced a £1,000 a year increase in the work allowances under universal credit, which will provide a £630 boost to working disabled people and families on low incomes. That is in addition to the additional support for claimants in receipt of severe disability premium announced in June.

[Mr Streeter]

I thank my hon. Friend for her reply. Will she join me in welcoming the success of the Disability Confident programme, which many employers in both the private and public sectors are embracing with enthusiasm? Is it making a difference to the number of disabled people who are in employment?

[Sarah Newton]

I am delighted to echo my hon. Friend’s words. We are determined that every disabled person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential, and Disability Confident has helped many employers recruit and retain talented disabled people. The latest data indicates that there are now 3.9 million disabled people in work, which is an increase of 973,000 since 2013.