§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact on the disabled of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [71015]
§ Maria EagleThe Department has commissioned a number of research studies that examine how the Disability Discrimination Act is having an impact on disabled people. Some have yet to report but it is clear that the number of cases being taken under the DDA is increasing, demonstrating that disabled people are making use of their rights'. A body of case law is being developed, which will
1039Whelp disabled people to understand the practical application of the law to their own circumstances. There is also evidence that employers are changing their policies and practices with an increase in the number of employers with policies on the employment of disabled people since the Act's introduction in 19962.
1Leverton, S. (2002) Monitoring the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Phase 2), DWP in-house report 91. This is a follow-up study to research commissioned by DfEE: Meager et al. (1999) Monitoring the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, DfEE Research Report RR119).2Golstone, C. (2002) Barriers to Employment for Disabled People, DWP In-House Report 95.