Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Today is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day designed to promote the rights of disabled people and to increase awareness of the challenges they face. However, as a Government, our role is far greater. Working with disabled people's organisations, arms of Government, the third sector and business, we must lead in the identification and removal of the barriers that disable people.

Most of these barriers are rooted in negative attitudes, the way we do things, and the built environment. We must all remember that many of these barriers are illegal, resulting in the daily discrimination faced by disabled people. To mark this day, I wish to update Members on the work this Government is doing to help disabled people overcome the barriers that they tell us that they face when seeking and maintaining employment.

We are clear on our commitment to create a more prosperous and equal Wales, pursuing equality for all. Our employability plan, published in March 2018, included a commitment to increase the number of disabled people into work. We've taken a cross-Government approach to initiate the step change necessary to remove the barriers that they are facing. Whilst I am very pleased to report that we have seen a rise in the employment rate of disabled people in Wales for the year to June 2019—an increase from 45.2 per cent to 48.6 per cent—more needs to be done if we are to achieve the UK average employment rate for disabled people.

Our cross-Government framework 'Action on Disability: The Right to Independent Living', launched by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt AM, on 18 September, communicated our commitment to identify and challenge discriminatory employment practices; to increase the number of disabled people in work through tailored support for individuals to overcome barriers to gaining and maintaining sustainable employment; and change employer attitudes, reduce the stigma, and better support employers to recruit and retain disabled people.

We are refocusing our existing employment provision, by working collectively with partners and contractors to focus resources to drive up engagement and support more disabled people into work. It is estimated that, across Welsh Government and European social fund programmes, this could support approximately an additional 25 per cent increase over the next three years.

We've made great strides to develop bespoke employability provision to tackle barriers to employment, by supporting those at the heart of the community through our community employability programmes; supporting those who are furthest from the labour market due to significant health barriers, through our health-led employment schemes; and providing on-the-job training through programmes such as apprenticeships.

In May we launched Working Wales, our new employability advice service, which makes it easier for people to access professional advice and support, needs-based assessment and referral to job opportunities. That service, delivered by Careers Wales, has qualified careers advisors and coaches who offer professional and personalised advice and guidance to identify and overcome barriers that individuals, including disabled people, face, progressing towards employment.

Our long-term plan for health and social care, 'A Healthier Wales', sets out how we need to support people to lead healthier lifestyles. Finding employment is hugely important to this prevention-based approach, and we are ensuring that our health-led employment programmes can support more disabled people gain and sustain employment.

Today marks a year since we launched our 'Inclusive Apprenticeships' disability action plan, and we are making good progress against the actions contained within it. The latest data for 2017/18 shows that 5.6 per cent of apprentices declared themselves as disabled in comparison with only 3.4 per cent in 2013/14. By delivering the actions in the plan to remove barriers to participation, we are confident that we can see this figure increase year on year.

We are not just supporting individuals, but also businesses, to create the conditions for disabled people to thrive in work. I can confirm that disabled people's employer champions, who will work with employers across Wales to make workplaces more inclusive and better support the recruitment and retention of disabled people, will be recruited in the new year. We are also reviewing our marketing material and employer resources to dispel myths, influence and change employer attitudes, and raise awareness of wider support available to businesses when employing disabled people. Additionally, we are working in partnership with a range of organisations representing disabled people to assess options for building on the current DWP Disability Confident scheme. I'll be updating Members on this very soon.

We are also changing the nature of conversations with businesses. Business Wales, alongside its general business advice, includes advice on equality and diversity policies and practices to advise businesses on the recruitment and retention of disabled employees. This will increase awareness of opportunities for disabled people to start a business, including alternative business models such as co-operatives and social businesses. The Business Wales website will be expanded to bring together relevant information for disabled people seeking to start and grow a business, and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs through Business Wales, enterprise hubs, Big Ideas Wales and Social Business Wales. And, in order to encourage and promote business behaviours and employment practices that go beyond the legal minimum, we are considering options to broaden and deepen the impact of the economic contract so that it further improves employers' understanding and responsibility for improving recruitment and retention of disabled workers. Certainly, at a minimum, this could include specific reference in our economic contract guidance to policies, processes and programmes that have the potential to support a more diverse workforce.

We are aware that maintaining the scope and volume of support for individuals and business may be challenging going forward, as our approach is underpinned by European funds. So, this Government repeats its clear and unambiguous position to any new UK Government: not a penny less, not a power lost if we leave the European Union.

We all know it is our societal barriers that disable people with impairments. This understanding comes from the social model of disability that we as an Assembly adopted in 2002, making Wales one of the first countries in the world to do so. Our aim is to visibly and effectively embed this model across all areas of work, including economic development and employer support, to encourage all Welsh organisations to do the same.

If we, in Wales, work together, we can end the discrimination that blights so many people’s lives. It is both our moral, and, dare I say, economic, duty to do so.