Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to encourage SMEs to sign up to the Disability Confident scheme.

There are now over 11,000 employers signed up to Disability Confident, of whom over 7,800 are SMEs.

We are using a targeted business-to-business approach to encourage local employers, including SMEs, to sign up to the scheme. For example, we are supporting the development of regional networks, such as KPMG’s Midlands Ability Network and Manchester Ability Network. We are also working to ensure that Disability Confident reflects the diversity of the country’s population, by working with local groups like the Birmingham Asian Business Chamber of Commerce.