§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the steps taken to publicise the availability of disability working allowance among(a) people with disabilities, (b) employers and (c) professionals working with disabled people. [33830]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellDisability working allowance has been promoted regularly since it was launched in 1992. A comprehensive programme of publicity has aimed to reach the widest possible audience and has included campaigns at national and local levels. Initiatives aimed at specific groups are as follows:
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- Disabled people:
- Television campaigns in 1992 and 1995;
- On-going newspaper campaigns from 1992, including articles in the jobs pages of local newspapers;
- Benefit News for Jobhunters which is published on a bi-monthly basis;
- Working with Benefits campaign on television, radio and in newspapers which started in 1995;
- On-going exhibitions and seminars such as the 1995 Motahility Exhibition (around 50,000 people attended) and Business In the Community seminar (Birmingham).
- Employers:
- Three videos about DWA have been produced aimed mainly at professional advisers and employers (1993–1996);
- National press campaign in March 1996 aimed at employers;
- Seminars have been held at places such as Remploy and The Shaw Trust;
- Ongoing distribution of DWA leaflets and literature to selected employers.
- Professionals working with disabled people:
- Campaigns in specialist press in 1992 and 1996 aimed at professionals working with people with disabilities;
- BBC Select's night-time television service promoted DWA in 1992;
- Benefit News for Jobhunters published on a bi-monthly basis has been widely distributed to professional advisers;
- Various seminars and the distribution of leaflets are carried out regularly to professionals: for example, SCOPE; MENCAP; NACAB and Job Centres.