Disability Discrimination Act (Hansard, 12 March 2001)

§ Ms Hodge

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: We have not set specific targets for employer awareness of the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Employer awareness is, however, one of the indicators used by my Department and we test the level through research. A survey carried out in 1998 showed that 75 per cent. of respondents were aware of the DDA, including all respondents from large firms. While 80 per cent. of large firms also stated that they were very or fairly aware of the employment provisions in the Act, awareness was much lower among small businesses at 36 per cent. My Department has recently commissioned a survey of workplaces, involving interviews with line managers as well as personnel staff and head office staff. This survey will examine a range of issues regarding the employment and retention of disabled people, including awareness of the employment provisions of the DDA.

As part of our efforts to raise awareness, a wide range of information about the DDA has been included in free leaflets and by April 2000, over 2 million had been distributed by the DDA Helpline, which was set up to give information and advice to businesses and disabled people. The "See the Person" campaign was launched in June 1999 to raise awareness about disability and to give information and advice to employers and service providers about the requirements of the DDA. The campaign included TV and radio advertisements, posters, press articles, and publicity organised through employers' organisations. The campaign was used to promote new publications such as a good practice guide for employing disabled people which has also been helpfully promoted through organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the CBI. The Government's current publicity campaign—"What have you got to offer"—is aimed at service providers and their responsibilities to provide access to disabled customers under Part III of the DDA. The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) took over responsibility for the Helpline, when it was set up in April 2000, and continues to provide support, advice and free publications about the Act. The DRC Helpline is on 08457 622 633.

On Monday 5 March we announced our intention to end the exemption of small employers from the DDA employment provisions in 2004. Through our document—"Towards Inclusion"—we are consulting on what help small employers might need as a result and we said that the DRC, the Small Business Service and the DfEE's telephone advice line, Equality Direct, would all work together to ensure that effective advice and information are available at the right time. Our intention is to continue working with these and other organisations and services and increase awareness through a range of initiatives including publicity campaigns.