§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will nominate a Minister in each Department to134W help identify and to overcome obstacles to ability, employment, education and mobility among people with real or apparent disability; [1227]
(2) what considerations and consultations led him to do without a Minister with overall responsibility for disability issues. [1226]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government place great importance on ensuring equal opportunities for all groups, including disabled people. By moving the disability portfolio from the Department of Social Security to the Department for Education and Employment the Government has signalled a move away from treating disabled people as recipients of benefit towards a culture which will value their wider role in society as people willing and able to take advantage of education, training and employment opportunities.
My right hon. Friend, the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities now deal with disability issues.
My right hon. Friend will act as a focal point across Government for disability issues and will be working with Ministerial colleagues in their Departments to ensure that the needs of all disabled people are addressed as policies are being developed. In this way, my right hon. Friend will have an input into policy as it affects disabled people whilst responsibility for implementing specific areas will remain with the relevant Departments.