§ 8. Mr. Tom Clarke (Coatbridge and Chryston)What steps are being taken to increase the numbers of people with disabilities in employment in each Department of Government. [9288]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr. Christopher Leslie)The Government are committed to employing disabled people, and all Departments have targets to increase the number of disabled people they employ. Good progress is being made, but a lot more work needs to be done.
§ Mr. ClarkeI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that all the evidence shows that people with disabilities have an outstanding record once they are given an opportunity to work? Will the Government therefore redouble their efforts to make sure that opportunities are available at every level in the civil service and that those opportunities extend to people with learning difficulties?
§ Mr. LeslieMy right hon. Friend touches on the precise point: diversity is not simply about reflecting the nation for its own sake, but about enriching the skills base and experiences across the civil service. Disabled people have a great deal to offer to improving public services throughout the nation. A variety of different tasks are under way in the Cabinet Office to increase the proportion of disabled people in the civil service, but more work needs to be done.