Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Part One of the National Disability Strategy, published July 2021, what recent steps her Department has taken to (a) encourage and support workplace disability networks, (b) achieve and maintain the highest level of Disability Confident accreditation, (c) ensure responsive and timely support to meet workplace adjustment needs and (d) develop and embed flexible working.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) supports our Disability Network by delivering against shared priorities in the Inclusion Framework, focusing on recruitment, building capability and raising awareness.

DIT and UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) level three (the highest level) Disability Confident accreditation was reaccredited in December 2020 and February 2021 respectively. To maintain the level 3 accreditation, DIT has developed Disability Confident training which is currently being rolled out.

DIT and UKEF have workplace adjustment policies and have access to the Civil Service Workplace Adjustment Service (CSWAS), an Occupational Health provider and an in-house advisory team to ensure timely end-to-end support.

The Department’s policies promote flexible working patterns (including Hybrid Working) to support individual needs, including disability-related adjustments and workplace adjustment passports.