§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action his Department is taking to enable severely disabled people to participate in Welfare to Work. [43374]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthSeverely disabled people, including those in receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance, are part of the client group for the New Deal for Disabled People. They will be invited to meet a Personal Adviser to explore ways to overcome the particular barriers to work they may face. The Government are consulting 365W widely to ensure that appropriate help and support are in place to enable severely disabled people to benefit from the programme.
§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what contact his Department has had with the Department of Health concerning interdepartmental co-operation to enable severely-disabled people to participate in Welfare to Work. [43371]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe Department for Education and Employment has close contact with the Department of Health on a range of issues. The Department of Health were represented on the inter-departmental working group which set the policy framework for the New Deal for Disabled People. They continue to contribute to the development of the New Deal for Disabled People.