Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps they have taken in their Department to operate the Disability Confident employer scheme for those seeking a lateral transfer; and how many and what proportion of candidates who declared themselves as having a disability and who applied under that scheme where (a) interviewed and (b) laterally transferred in (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.

The Department for Transport is a ‘Disability Confident Leader’ in the Disability Confident Scheme which is the highest of the three levels of commitment to the scheme. In addition to taking steps such as providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, the Department provides leadership in supporting the scheme, reports on disability, mental health and wellbeing and has undergone a rigorous validation process. The data available to the Department shows that around 10% of internal applicants since 1 May 2022 applied under the scheme, with a similar level of representation at interview stage.