Oral Answers to Questions

Marsha De Cordova Excerpts

Monday 27th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Bobby Dean (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

2. What steps his Department is taking to assess the effectiveness of the Access to Work scheme in helping to enable long-term career progression for disabled people.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

9. What steps he is taking to improve the Access to Work scheme.

[Martin Wrigley (Newton Abbot) (LD)]

11. What changes have been made to the Access to Work scheme in this parliamentary Session.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Stephen Timms]

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. Obviously, I do not know the details of the case that he refers to, but it is important that Access to Work and our wider employment support enable people not just to get into work, but to thrive once they are there, exactly as he says.

[Marsha De Cordova]

The Access to Work scheme provides vital support, and it is one of the best forms of support for blind and partially sighted workers, but when their awards come up for review, they find that their support and awards are being significantly reduced. Given the Government’s commitment to keeping Britain working, will the Minister explain why blind and partially sighted people are seeing their support cut? Will he agree to meet me and sight-loss organisations to see how we can address some of the challenges with the scheme?

[Sir Stephen Timms]

There has been absolutely no change in the policy on Access to Work, but there has been more scrupulous application of the existing policy and guidance over the last year. That means that Access to Work awards have been more consistent, and I know there have been cases in which support has been reduced. I am looking forward to attending the forthcoming meeting of the all-party group on eye health and visual impairment, which my hon. Friend chairs; that might give us an opportunity to discuss the issues she has raised.