Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what evidence his Department holds, including survey data and commissioned research, on the extent to which disabled people identify inaccessible streets and public transport as barriers to accessing employment and education; and whether he plans to publish that evidence.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department regularly conducts research and analysis that looks at the barriers faced by disabled people such as the ‘Work aspirations and support needs of health and disability customers’ and this can be found on GOV.UK. One way the Department supports disabled people to work with transport accessibility is through Access to Work. Access to Work contributes to the disability-related extra costs of working faced by disabled people and those with a health condition in the workplace that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments. It does not replace an employer’s duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments. The grant provides personalised support and workplace assessments, travel to work, support workers, and specialist aids and equipment.