8. Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: International Day of Disabled People

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:43 pm on 30 November 2021.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 5:43, 30 November 2021

Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. I think you raised many important issues and I look forward to working with you through our co-operation agreement, because it is about strengthening the rights of disabled people and tackling the inequalities they continue to face.

I have spoken of our pioneering employment advice as having an impact on reaching out to employers, particularly in the private sector, but across all public, private and third sectors. But we are working with the Department for Work and Pensions, actively promoting the Access to Work scheme to employers and disabled people. There are networks to ensure higher take-up of the scheme. It is a commitment to increase the take-up of Access to Work in Wales, and that’s already a commitment we made in our 'Action on Disability: The Right to Independent Living'. We’re holding a forum with partners in Wales with DWP. Of course, that’s where we don’t have the powers; we have to work with DWP to ensure that new policy initiatives and promotion of the scheme are relevant to Welsh needs and circumstances.