Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to encourage businesses to train and employ people with learning difficulties to give them equal opportunities.

Justin Tomlinson

Employment for people with learning disabilities is a Government priority.

Through our Disability Confident campaign we are encouraging employers to attract, recruit and retain disabled people, including those with Learning Disabilities, who are eager to work and have the skills, talents and abilities that employers are looking for.

In 2014/15 Access to Work supported 2,010 awards for people with learning disabilities; the highest ever number of learning disabled people supported since the start of our records in 2007.

The Department is an active member of the National Learning Disability Programme Board, chaired by Department of Health. This is a cross-government group, working co-productively with disabled people and disability organisations to positively shape future policy to improve services and increase work opportunities for people with Learning Disabilities. The Department is supporting the development of a joint Learning Disability Strategy to drive this agenda forward.

We have also set up a taskforce to look at improving accessibility of apprenticeships for people with Learning Disabilities. Individuals invited to sit on the taskforce represent a range of organisations and specialisms, from employers and training providers to charities and educational experts. Organisations representing disabled people and those with learning disabilities (for example Scope and MENCAP) are also taking part.