§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to give disabled people the same legislative protection from discrimination as those facing sex and race discrimination. [138376]
§ Maria EagleWe have been working to ensure that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) provides comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. Most recently, the Disability Discrimination Act (Amendment) Regulations 2003 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Pensions) Regulations 2003, which come into force in October 2004, have improved protection for disabled people in the field of employment and vocational training. Later this year, we will publish a draft Disability Bill which will include further measures to extend disabled people's civil rights. However, it is inappropriate to attempt exact 1343W comparisons between the DDA and the Race Relations and Sex Discrimination Acts, not least because the DDA includes the unique concept of reasonable adjustments.