Thank you for contacting my office. I very much appreciate you getting in touch about providing support for those with multiple sclerosis.
I welcome that this Government has shown a strong commitment to improving the lives of disabled individuals and that improvements to services, access and opportunities, levels of understanding and visibility have taken place.
Under the Equality Act 2010, individuals are protected from discrimination throughout the job application process and their employment. I am glad that the disability employment gap has reduced overall to 28.4 per cent as of September 2021.
However, the Government’s policy is to improve this further, including through measures such as the introduction of the Adjustments Passport to support disabled people with greater flexibility and smoother transitions into employment and between job roles, improved employment services, the creation of a new Centre for Assistive and Accessible Technology and strengthened rights in the workplace, including encouragement of flexible working.
Various pilots of the Adjustments Passport are underway with more planned this year. I know the Government continues to work with a range of stakeholders including disabled people’s charities and organisations to inform its development.
Access to Work is transforming the service it provides and is working to deliver a modern, efficient, digital service that provides an improved customer experience. A key part of this transformation will be the development of a new digital customer journey, that delivers a quicker, more efficient service for customers.
I know that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is reviewing the statutory right to request flexible working, with the Government set to launch a consultation on this issue.
Additionally, as we move to living with Covid, I know that the Government is keeping the Statutory Sick Pay system under review.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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