Employment Gap for Blind and Sight-impaired People

Debate between Baroness Sherlock and Lord Forsyth of Drumlean

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sherlock (Lab)]

I am grateful to my noble friend for raising that and for bringing her personal experience to the fore here. My department is responsible for disability in government, and we work very hard to be as accessible as possible. We have significant numbers of staff and colleagues who themselves have a range of disabilities, including sight impairment, and we work constantly to improve what we do and what we offer in that space. On Parliament, I think she makes a good challenge. The fact that Parliament is not subject in the same way as other employers to some of the legislative requirements does not mean that we should not do just as good a job as other people and try to make it better. I am very happy to talk to the House authorities on her behalf about how we continue to make progress in that area.

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

My Lords, is the issue here not that the Equality Act applies to the staff in this House but not to the Members? Should that not be sorted so that Members are given the kind of support that we see in other parliaments—such as, dare I say, the European Parliament—where they are given the support to carry out their activities?

[Baroness Sherlock (Lab)]

I have always known the noble Lord as a good European—I am glad to hear him speaking up for the European Parliament today. To be honest, I am not sure we can use that as an excuse. We do not have to be made to do something to do it, and the House should look at it.

Labour Market

Debate between Baroness Sherlock and Lord Forsyth of Drumlean

Monday 8th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sherlock (Lab)]

The answer to the noble Lord’s question is no. The Government have had to take tough decisions and we knew that they would have some impact. However, all the signs are going in the right direction—there are real signs of progress out there. When it comes to part-time workers, I assure the noble Lord that one of the good things about the way in which the DWP is now organised is that it is tailoring and personalising the employment support it gives people in two ways: first, to get those who are not in jobs into them; and, secondly, to get those in jobs moving on within them, whether that is through more hours, better work or more skills. For example, through our new jobs and careers service, we bring together people who are not on benefits at the moment—perhaps they are working at the margin only for a few hours and do not need to claim—to be part of that. As a country, if we are to have economic growth, we will need a skilled and motivated labour force. I am confident that we are doing that well.

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

My Lords, if people are better off not working and being on benefits than they are working at the minimum wage, is the Minister surprised that we have millions of people who should be working and who are not?

[Baroness Sherlock (Lab)]

My Lords, I presume the noble Lord is referring to the stories about universal credit. The structure of universal credit was created by the last Government. It was designed to operate in and out of work. We have become aware that there were some imbalances in the system. As the noble Lord will be aware, the Universal Credit Bill that we put through just before the recess has rebalanced the rates of universal credit by halving the amounts that will be paid in future to those who are out of work on grounds of illness or disability. It will increase the standard allowance to help raise incentives to work. I think most people want to work and have a fulfilling life. Our job is both to put the incentives in the right place and to make sure that the jobs are there and that people are skilled to do them. We are determined to do all this.