Committees

Disability employment gap

Inquiry

The Committee investigated the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people and how the Department for Work and Pensions can better support disabled people in the labour market.

We focussed on:

  • Trends in the disability employment gap
  • The economic impact of low employment rates for disabled people
  • The assistance available to help people in work
  • The ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Read an Easy Read summary of the Disability employment gap report.

Watch a video summary of the Disability employment gap report in British Sign Language.

Read the call for evidence to find out more about the inquiry (also available in Easy Read, British Sign Language and audio only formats).

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Wednesday 19 May 2021
9:00am Private
9:30am Public
Disability employment gap - Oral evidence 19 May 2021
9:30am
  • Justin Tomlinson MP (Minister of State (Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work) at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Angus Gray (Director Employers, Health and Inclusive Employment at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • John Paul Marks (Director General for Work and Health Services at Department for Work and Pensions)
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 28 April 2021
9:30am Public
Disability employment gap - Oral evidence 28 April 2021
9:30am
  • Rob Geaney (Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs at Royal National Institute for Deaf People)
  • Martin Sigsworth (Senior Employment Manager at Pocklington Trust)
  • Daniel Jennings (Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer at Epilepsy Action)
10:30am
  • Sarah Rawlings (Executive Director of Research at MS Society)
  • Catherine Hale (Founder and Director at Chronic Illness Inclusion Project)
  • Professor Karen Walker-Bone (Director at National Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, Versus Arthritis)
Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 24 March 2021
9:30am Public
Disability employment gap - Oral evidence 24 March 2021
9:30am
  • The Lord Shinkwin (Chair at The Centre for Social Justice Disability Commission)
  • Angela Matthews (Head of Policy and Research at Business Disability Forum)
  • Matthew Oakley (Director at WPI Economics)
10:30am
  • Matthew Ainsworth (Assistant Director of Education, Skills & Work at Greater Manchester Combined Authority)
  • Clare Gray (Organisational Lead for Disability Advocacy at Shaw Trust)
  • Huw Davies (Chief Executive at British Association for Supported Employment)
Virtual meeting
Wednesday 10 March 2021
9:30am Public
Disability employment gap - Oral evidence 10 March 2021
9:30am
  • David Stephenson (Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer at Mind)
  • Alex Kennedy (Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs at Rethink Mental Illness)
  • Dr Jed Boardman (Consultant Psychiatrist/Senior Lecturer in Social Psychiatry Senior Policy Advisor at Centre for Mental Health)
10:30am
  • Matthew Harrison (Public Affairs and Parliamentary Manager at Mencap)
  • Jane Harris (Director of External Affairs and Social Change at National Autistic Society)
  • Lorenzo Torre (Job Coach at Three Cs)
Virtual meeting

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.