Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she plans to reintroduce a fund to help disabled people seek elected office.

The Government is committed to see more disabled people become elected representatives.

Building on the experience of the Access to Elected Office fund and the EnAble fund, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will support a new scheme from April 2022 to support those seeking to become candidates and – as importantly – once they have been elected to public office.

Political parties have primary responsibility for supporting their own disabled candidates, in line with their duties under the Equality Act 2010.