§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make it her policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if she will make a statement. [1664]
§ Mr. WorthingtonOur manifesto commits us to establishing "comprehensive, enforceable civil rights for disabled people against discrimination in society or at work, developed in partnership with all interested parties". We shall be consulting and developing our proposals in partnership with disability organisations, employers, employers' organisations and trade unions. Interested bodies in Northern Ireland will be included in the consultation. An essential issue will be the definition of disability. It is not appropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of that consultation.