Minister for Disabled People gives evidence on Access to Work

• Parliament TV: Employment support for disabled people: Access to Work
• Transcript: read the transcript of the final evidence session
• Inquiry: Access to Work
• Work and Pensions Committee

Witnesses

At  9.30am, Wednesday 29 October, Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Department for Work and Pensions

• Mark Harper MP, Minister for Disabled People
• Colin Stewart, Work Services Director

British Sign Language and subtitles
Please note that this evidence session will be broadcast live on BBC Parliament and on the BBC’s Democracy Live website with British Sign Language interpretation. The session broadcast on BBC Parliament will also have subtitles.
There will also be British Sign Language interpretation provided for the public gallery in the Wilson Room; space is limited and will be available on a “first-come, first-served” basis in the usual way.
Please note that speech-to-text reporting will not be provided in the Wilson Room.

Purpose of the session

This final evidence session with the Minister for Disabled People is intended to explore the Government’s position on a range of issues highlighted during the inquiry, including:

• The potential for substantially increased funding of AtW in line with the recommendation of the Sayce Review
• DWP’s general approach to the administration of the scheme, including its approach to self-employment and entrepreneurship
• Specific administrative issues, including the paper-based application and invoicing processes and the recently introduced central call centre system
• The clarity, transparency and consistency of the award decision-making and review processes
• The level of disability awareness of DWP staff administering the scheme
• The guidance on funding for full-time "support workers"
• Referral routes into the Workplace Mental Health Support Service; and 
• The AtW employer cost-sharing arrangements

Further information 

• About Parliament: Select Committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch Committees