Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provision his Department is making to improve employment outcomes for long-term unemployed people with deaf impairment for whom British Sign Language is their first language.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all disabled people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations. We offer a number of programmes and initiatives that successfully support disabled people into work, including deaf people or those with hearing loss who use British Sign Language.

Employment programmes such as Work Choice, Specialist Employability Support and Access to Work help disabled people, including BSL users, find, start and remain in work. Access to Work has a dedicated Deaf and Hearing Loss Team, which ensures that people with deafness or hearing loss receive specialist advice and support. Deaf people and those with hearing loss represent the largest group of people helped by Access to Work.

Last month, DWP took an important step in making Government services accessible to deaf people or those with hearing loss with the launch of the Video Relay Service (VRS), a six-month pilot which will ensure that BSL users can communicate with DWP staff quickly and easily. This service is available for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and the Access to Work enquiry lines. VRS can be accessed on a laptop or PC, or through an app on iOS or Android devices.

On 4 January, DWP launched a call for evidence for its Market Review of Communications for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/communications-for-people-who-are-deaf-or-have-hearing-loss-market-review

The Disability Confident campaign, launched in 2013, works to improve employer awareness and confidence in unlocking disabled people’s talents, including deaf people and those with hearing loss. We are encouraging employers to register their commitment to become more Disability Confident and receive an information pack and regular updates. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/disability-confident

The Equality Act 2010 provides statutory protection against discrimination and sets out that employers must make reasonable adjustments for their disabled workers.