§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve160W the services available to help people with disabilities to obtain employment and retain jobs; and if he will make a statement. [104582]
§ Ms HodgeBetter employment services for people with disabilities are an important element of our commitment to comprehensive civil rights and an intrinsic part of our Welfare to Work policy. That is why we have devoted an additional £30 million for the Employment Service's specialist disability programmes over the three years 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02, with more resources for Access to Work, Supported Employment and the Job Introduction Scheme. Significant improvements to services to support disabled people have been a feature of all New Deals. Through New Deal for Disabled People we are testing new ways of helping people on incapacity benefits to return to work. We are considering how the main lessons from the pilots should be built into the next stage of this New Deal. We hope to make an announcement in the near future.