Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of cross-government working between the Disability Policy Unit, the Department of Health and Social Care and other relevant departments in improving outcomes for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

In December 2024, a Lead Minister for Disability was appointed in every government department, including the Department of Health and Social Care, to represent the interests of disabled people and champion disability inclusion and accessibility across their department, as they drive forward progress on the government’s manifesto commitments. The Lead Ministers for Disability have met regularly as a group to discuss improving outcomes for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

The Health and Growth Accelerators programme has been established to test the effectiveness of health interventions across three systems- South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and North East and North Cumbria- in supporting people back to work or keeping them in work. The programme supports people with common conditions including musculoskeletal, mental health, and metabolic conditions, with early results indicating improved health and employment outcomes. Integrated working and local partnerships are key success factors: a multidisciplinary team nationally across DWP, DHSC and NHSE and locally across Integrated Care Boards and MCAs successfully co-design and deliver the programme as one team.