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Extra costs and barriers faced by disabled consumers to be examined by MPs

12 May 2023

The Women and Equalities Committee will hold an evidence session on the challenges disabled consumers face when buying goods and services, in the third session of its National Disability Strategy inquiry.  

According to research published by the Business Disability Forum, 75% of disabled people and their families have left a UK shop or business because of poor accessibility. MPs will question disability charities, as well as business and research organisations, on how shops and businesses can unlock disabled consumers’ spending power by improving accessibility. 

Purpose of the session

Issues the Committee will likely cover include: 

  • how the pandemic and cost of living crisis have impacted disabled consumers 
  • the digital divide between disabled and non-disabled people 
  • barriers in accessing banking services and whether the Government is doing enough to address inequalities. 

In the National Disability Strategy 2021, the Government committed to champion disabled consumers and make the UK the most accessible place in the world to live and work with technology. 

Witnesses 

Wednesday 17 May at 14.30, Wilson Room, Portcullis House 

From 2:30pm: 

  • Angela Matthews, Head of Policy and Research, Business Disability Forum 
  • Eric Harris, Director of Inclusive Research, Research Institute for Disabled Consumers 
  • Tammy Jones, Managing Director, Purple 
  • Vivienne Francis, Chief Social Change Officer, The Royal National Institute of Blind People 

Further information

Image: Parliamentary copyright