Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Part One of the National Disability Strategy, published July 2021, what recent steps his 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 Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an active disability network which is open to staff, both military and civilian, to join and runs several events throughout the year.

Under the Government's Disability Confident scheme, MOD has been an accredited 'Disability Confident Leader' at level 3 (the highest level) since September 2017. This was renewed in March 2021. Our aims are that staff with disabilities should feel valued and supported, that managers should have access to consistent advice and expertise, and that reasonable adjustments will be made in a timely manner. As a Disability Confident Employer, we benefit from being able to draw from the widest possible pool of talent, secure, retain, and develop staff with disabilities who are skilled, loyal, and hard-working.

All staff are entitled to request reasonable adjustments in their workplace and the Department strives to ensure these are assessed, administered, and delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Defence's approach to flexible (including hybrid) working is set out in our Future Workplace Strategy. We have revised our Flexible Working policy to reflect these changes and engaged with the MOD Disability Network to ensure that the needs of employees with disabilities were met. Our policies support employees, including these with disabilities to work flexibly using a range of working patterns/schedules to help them to meet personal and work commitments. Employees with disabilities can also access appropriate equipment and technology to enable them to carry out their role.