Lords Committee to hear from senior Government officials on access to public services for young disabled people
Tuesday 6 June 2023
On Wednesday 7 June, the House of Lords Public Services Committee will hold its first evidence session in a new inquiry examining access to public services for young disabled people. Senior officials from the Department of Education and the Cabinet Office will give evidence to the Committee in a session starting at 3.00pm.
The inquiry will focus on provision within schools, and the services available at transition points in young people’s lives. It will also consider the ways accessibility requirements under the Equality Act 2010 for public services are enforced. The Committee will launch its call for evidence, including details of how to make submissions on its website later this month.
The session can watched live or on demand at Parliament TV or in person in Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster.
Giving evidence will be:
3.00pm
- Alison Ismail, Director, Special Education Needs Disability and Alternative Provision, Department for Education;
- Alexandra Gowlland, Deputy Director, Disability Unit, Cabinet Office; and
- Marcus Bell, Director, Equality Hub, Cabinet Office.
Questions will include:
- Why are some mainstream schools unable to deliver inclusive education to some disabled young people, and how is this being addressed?
- What are the main transition points for young disabled people in their experience of school? How are difficulties at these stages addressed within mainstream schools, both primary and secondary?
- What steps are the Disability Unit taking to ensure public services, national and local government are meeting the requirements set out in the Equality Act and the Public Sector Equality Duty? What steps are being taken to ensure that enforcement of these duties is not reliant on individuals taking services to court?
- How are Departments ensuring that the voices of young disabled people are heard in the design and delivery of public services and strategies?
