Question

To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, how many disabled candidates have been supported by the Access to Elected Office fund since that fund was introduced; what the cost is of an average support package provided by that fund for a candidate; what amount the Government Equalities Office plans to spend in total on disabled candidates; what assessment has been made of that fund's effectiveness; and what plans the Government has for that fund after 2015.

The pilot Access to Elected Office fund has approved 57 grants for 50 disabled applicants; the average value of claims from the fund has been £4,289. £88,260 was claimed in grants over 2012-14 and £156,215 has been approved for drawdown since the fund was extended from 1 July 2014. Total expenditure will depend on the number of successful applications to the fund.

An assessment of the fund’s effectiveness is planned for 2015 to inform a decision by the next Government on whether the fund should continue.