Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to increase the financial inclusion of people with a learning disability.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government aims to ensure that all people have access to useful and affordable financial products and services. To promote financial inclusion, the Government works closely with the regulators and stakeholders from the public, private and third sectors.
The FCA’s vulnerability guidance requires firms to identify vulnerable customers, which can include those with a learning disability, and to consider the needs of these customers appropriately.
The Consumer Duty builds on this work by raising the standard expected from firms for all customers with a focus on delivering good outcomes and preventing harm.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps his Department is taking to provide financial support for disabled people with the rise in the cost of living.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable. Over the last two years, the government has provided support to help households with the cost of living totalling £96 billion – an average of £3400 per UK household.
Individuals who incur extra cost due to a long-term health conditions or disability may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment, which can be worth over £8,900 per year. This has been complemented in recent years with two £150 Disability Cost of Living Payments, to help the most vulnerable through the period of high inflation.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were waiting for a decision on their Access to Work application on 1 March 2024.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of 1st March 2024, there were 29,871 applications awaiting a decision.
Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to require airline staff to wear cameras to help prevent discrimination against disabled airline passengers by staff.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Air travel should be enjoyable and accessible for all, and discrimination against disabled passengers is completely unacceptable.
Government has been clear with the aviation industry that it must provide the best possible service, including ensuring disabled passengers receive the support they require.
UK aviation operates in the private sector, and it would not be for the UK government to mandate use of body worn cameras by airline staff.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on the introduction of an airlines accessibility framework.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority, the UK’s specialist aviation regulator, consulted on the introduction of an airline accessibility performance framework, which closed in July 2023. The CAA has been analysing the responses, and will publish its response to that consultation and next steps in due course.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people sit on his Department's accessibility group; and of those, how many identify as disabled.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) currently consists of 10 members including its Chair. Of these, 7 members identify as disabled.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of fare discounts for assistants accompanying disabled airline passengers.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government strongly believes that everyone should have equal access to air travel. While there is no legal requirement for airlines to offer free or discounted seats to an accompanying person, it is the CAA's view that it is best practice for airlines to do so where they require a disabled or less mobile passenger to travel with an accompanying person for safety reasons.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the number of people living with (a) arthritis and (b) a musculoskeletal condition that have received support through the Access to Work scheme.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department does collect information on Access to Work recipient's primary medical condition, however we do not hold information to the level required to identify people with arthritis and/or musculoskeletal conditions. Therefore we are not able to make an estimate of the number of people living with arthritis and/or a musculoskeletal condition that have received support through the Access to Work scheme. Information on Access to Work volumes and expenditure by primary medical condition are published annually in the official statistics: Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve awareness of the Access to Work programme.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information about Access to Work (AtW) is widely available in Jobcentres and across government, including a range of online resources. Our stakeholders actively promote the scheme to groups and customers that might benefit from support.
Our new online application and payment portals mean that it is now easier for customers to apply for and claim the support they need.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to increase public awareness of support available to people living with (a) arthritis and (b) musculoskeletal conditions.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government has taken steps to increase public awareness of support available to people living with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as arthritis.
For example, the Musculoskeletal health: applying All Our Health - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) guide is a government resource to help health and care professionals prevent poor MSK health and promote wellbeing as part of their everyday practice. NHS England’s NHS England » Musculoskeletal health page also highlights the importance of MSK health and suggests resources for healthcare professionals, patients and carers to use.
In October 2022, government published the MSK Health Toolkit for employers and further education institution, developed in partnership with Business in the Community, which provides practical information for employers of all sizes to address MSK conditions in the workplace for the working age population.
There are multiple risk factors that can heighten an individual’s susceptibility to MSK conditions, including physical inactivity and being underweight, overweight or obese. The ‘Better Health’ campaigns and resources highlights the effects of weight and physical activity and supports people to make and sustain changes to improve their health. The campaign provides free, accessible and evidence-based resources including digital tools, such as NHS Weight Loss, Food Scanner, Couch to 5K and Active 10 apps.
Since announcing the MCS in January 2023, we have been working with a range of stakeholders to identify what would make the most difference in tackling the six major conditions groups, which includes MSK conditions. We expect to publish the MCS in Spring of this year. Government also announced funding for scaling up MSK Physical Activity Hubs and embedding employment advice within MSK pathways as part of £400m of funding in Spring Budget 2023 and we are working with a range of stakeholders on these projects.
Beyond this, World Arthritis Day (WAD), observed annually on 12 October, spreads awareness of the existence and impact of rheumatic and MSK disorders.