Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June to Question 186960 on Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund, whether she has received representations from disability advocacy groups on re-establishing the (a) Access to Elected Office Fund and (b) the EnAble Fund.

This Government has received representations from a number of individuals and groups regarding the need for greater support for disabled people wishing to stand for elected office. This includes representations related to the provision of funding to support with reasonable adjustments.

This Government is committed to increasing representation of disabled people in elected office. Earlier this year, the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work wrote to political parties represented in the House of Commons to seek support in ensuring that disabled candidates and people in elected office have the support they require.

The Government has been clear that the responsibility for supporting disabled candidates sits with political parties and that the EnAble Fund was an interim measure to give parties time to put their own support in place.

Building on the experience of the Access to Elected Office fund and the EnAble fund, DLUHC with the Local Government Association launched a new scheme in April 2022, to support those seeking to become candidates in local elections.