Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that people with multiple sclerosis are not discriminated against in the workplace; and if she will make a statement.

Measures to prevent workplace discrimination exist in the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), for which my Department has lead responsibility.

We are committed to protecting people with disabilities in the workplace. The Act places obligations on employers in relation to disabled employees which ensure that workers who have chronic diseases or conditions (whether terminal or not), or debilitating illnesses, are fully protected from any unlawful treatment by their employers.

Multiple sclerosis is one of the specified disabilities in the Act which means anyone with this condition is automatically considered disabled and so protected from discriminatory treatment in employment.

In most other cases protection from discrimination would still be available where a worker’s condition fits the definition of a disability set out in section 6 of the 2010 Act - i.e. “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”. The Act defines long-term in this context as having lasted, or being likely to last for at least 12 months, or likely to last for the rest of the life of the person. ‘Substantial’ is defined as more than minor or trivial.

As a signal of our commitment to promoting employment among disabled people the Government recently launched the new Disability Confident Scheme. By working through the 3-level scheme employers can develop the tools they need to recruit, retain and develop more disabled staff, and can gain a badge and certificate to mark their achievements. The scheme also provides supporting advice, guidance and case studies to help employers on their Disability Confident journeys. Amongst other things the Scheme covers the need for employers to respond positively to requests for adjustments, including working flexibility.