Parliamentarians Write to Disability Minister on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

3 December 2024

Dear Sir Stephen 

Call for Government Action to ensure Disabled People are at the Heart of Decision Making

We are writing to you as Minister for Disability to seek assurance that this government will be taking a new approach to policy decisions; one that is inclusive and respectful of disabled people, and one that embeds co-production in its decision making.

Social care is a vital part of the functioning of the NHS but is also intrinsic to education, employment, and overall health inequalities.

One of the key issues facing disabled people is poverty, compounded by the rising cost of living. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation UK Poverty Report 2024 finds that disabled people continue to face a higher risk of poverty due to barriers to work and the additional costs associated with disability and ill-health, which have been exacerbated by the rising cost of living:

• Nearly half of all people who were disabled and living in poverty have a long-term, limiting mental condition – this is around 2.3 million people.
• The employment rate for disabled people was only 54% in June 2023, compared to an 83% employment rate for people who are not disabled.
• The disability pay gap continues to widen with 69% of disabled workers earning less than £15 an hour.

We welcome the Government’s intention to strengthen social care workers’ rights and address the current skills and vacancy gaps. However, there are two key remaining issues. Without pay parity with the NHS, the much-needed community support provided by the social care workforce will cease to exist. In addition, to address economic inactivity, the barriers for disabled people in accessing work need to be removed including the limited access to necessary skills, training, and opportunities.

With this in mind, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how disabled people might partner with the Government to support them to live fulfilled lives and so that improvements such as those needed to alleviate the cost of living, as well as employment and education challenges can be made with disabled people at the centre of the decision-making processes.

About VODG

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) is a national charity that brings together more than 100 not-for-profit organisations who provide services to disabled people in ways that promote independence, choice and control. VODG members provide a range of social care, health, education, welfare and employment support, helping disabled people to live the lives they choose.

We would be delighted to arrange a meeting at a date and time of your earliest convenience with VODG and their members.

We look forward to working with yourself, the new government, and our allies across Parliament, to improve the support for people with disabilities across the country.

With thanks and kind regards,