Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress her Department has made on the consultation on a renewed access to elected office fund.

The Government believes that political parties have the prime responsibility for supporting their disabled candidates. We are undertaking a programme of work to help political parties to better support disabled candidates. As part of this my officials have met with political parties and disability organisations and continue this engagement.

The Access to Elected Office Fund has been closed since 2015. We have launched the EnAble Fund for Elected Office, which is a £250,000 commitment to support disabled candidates, primarily for the forthcoming local elections in May. The fund will help cover disability-related expenses people might face when seeking elected office.