HC Deb 17 December 1993 vol 234 cc1027-9W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what plans he has to extend the period when employers would not be expected to contribute towards the purchase of equipment or services under the access to work scheme;

(2) when the initial six-month period when employers will not be required to contribute towards the purchase of specialist equipment or services for disabled employees will commence;

(3) when he expects to make an announcement on (a) the level of the ceiling for employer contributions and (b) the level of ceiling on allocations for individual employees within the new access to work scheme;

(4) if he will outline the procedures for making needs assessments under the new access to work scheme;

(5) if he will outline the impact of the introduction of employer contributions towards the purchase of specialist equipment and services for disabled employees upon (a) self-employed disabled people, (b) part-time disabled employees, (c) disabled employees working from home, (d) disabled employees on temporary contracts of one year or less and (e) disabled people contracted to work concurrently for two or more separate employers;

(6) if he will make a statement on what transitional arrangements will be put in place for those disabled employees currently in receipt of equipment and services under special schemes, following the commencement of the access to work scheme;

(7) if he will make it his policy to establish a mechanism enabling disabled employees to lodge appeals against capping limits set under the new access to work scheme.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement about access to work to the House on 22 June 1993,Official Report, column 102. Access to work will replace and extend four of the Department's current special schemes and enable us to help more disabled people and meet a much wider range of their employment related needs. Clients' needs will be assessed by the Employment Service's placing, assessment and counselling teams in consultation with clients and their employers and buying in expert advice where necessary.

There have been a number of issues on access to work on which my right hon. Friend has still to make decisions. We are currently listening to the views of a number of interested parties and individuals. My right hon. Friend will make decisions on these areas and make an announcement as soon as possible.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment has been made by his Department of the impact of the introduction of an employers' contribution and individual employee caps under access to work upon those employees requiring new equipment or services as a result of internal promotions.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The possibility of an employee needing new help on promotion is one which we are taking into account in setting ceilings, both for individuals' entitlement and employer contribution.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps he is taking to prevent employers from attempting to recover the costs of employer contributions for disabled employees under access to work through reducing salaries and pay rises of the particular employees;

(2) if he will indicate what provisions are in place to assist a disabled person to keep his or her job in the event of an employer refusing to make a financial contribution towards equipment and services under the new access to work scheme.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Placing assessment and counselling teams will work closely with employers who have employees being helped under access to work to ensure that they are fully aware of the benefits of retaining those employees. The PACTs will help the employer identify cost-effective help to ensure that any necessary contribution is minimised. In addition, the maximum contribution will be capped at a modest level. We believe that employers will be willing to pay a reasonable contribution to retain the services of valued existing employees, but employers who do deduct pay in these circumstances may face claims under the Wages Act 1986.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the disability organisations he has met to date to discuss the requirement upon employers to pay a contribution towards the purchase of special equipment and services for disabled employees as set out in the access to work proposals.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met representatives of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, MENCAP, the Spinal Injuries Association, the Royal National Institute of Deaf People, RADAR, Deaf Accord and the Employers' Forum on Disability, to discuss the new scheme, access to work, about which he made a statement to the House on 22 June 1993,Official Report, columns 102-03. My noble Friend Lord Henley has also met representatives from the National Federation for the Blind in the United Kingdom and from the Homeworkers Action Group for Blind and Partially Sighted People.