Has your MP signed up?
Disability Rights UK has been working with the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability Dr Lisa Cameron MP to raise the voice of disabled people in parliament.
Specifically, Daniel Zeichner has tabled Early Day Motion 455 and as of last week some 26 MPs had signed it.
Dr Cameron has also submitted an application for a backbench debate on disability and employment to coincide with international day of disabled people on December 3rd.
Finally, Dr Cameron has opened a letter for MPs to sign. The letter asks the Prime Minister to extend the audit she commissioned on the disadvantage that black and minority ethnic people face in participating fully in UK society to establishing the situation faced by disabled people too. Whilst welcoming the focus on race some of the key indicators raise just as strong concerns on disability e.g. disabled people are more than three times more disadvantaged in accessing the labour market – 32% as against 10%. Please can check if your MP has signed up to support these initiatives and if not contact them with a request to do so.
The Early Day Motion can be viewed here
The backbench debate motion is: That this house has recognised the potential talent pool within the disabled community and will commit to incorporating these workers into post-Brexit economic growth plans.
The letter from Dr Cameron MP can be viewed here
Your MP should be asked to indicate their support by contacting appgsecretariat@disabilityrightsuk.org
These opportunities to crystallise the support of parliament are not binding upon the Government but in the context of the near publication of the Government’s response to its DWP green paper “Improving Lives” and the BEIS green paper “The Industrial Strategy” they provide an opportunity to link these documents and demonstrate the interest of parliament in disabled people’s participation in the UK economy.
If you wish to know more about the voting record of your MP please see www.theyworkforus
If you want to support the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability then please contact us via Philip.connolly@disabilityrightsuk.org please mark the subject box of your email APPG.