Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to her Written Statement of 17 May 2018 on Access to Elected Office for Disabled People, HCWS695, and the announcement of £250,000 to support disabled candidates wishing to stand in the English local elections in May 2019, if she make it her policy to adopt a scheme that replicates the Access to Elected Office scheme administered by Inclusion Scotland.

We are working on what the interim funding will cover and how it will be delivered. Further details will be announced in due course and will take account of other relevant provision – for example, as part of its Be a Councillor programme, the Local Government Association (LGA) provides on-line information and, via its four Political Groups, face-to-face training and other support.

The Be a Councillor programme is funded by an improvement grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and promotes the role of councillor to individuals, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. The LGA Political Groups delivering the programme include smaller parties and independents. This reflects my belief that it is for political parties to do what is necessary to support all their candidates and prospective candidates, including those who have a disability.