Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of (a) the support available to help people with multiple sclerosis to succeed in the labour market and (b) further measures that could be taken to help improve this support.

A range of government initiatives, including schemes in partnership with the health system, are currently supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including people with multiple sclerosis, to live independent lives and start, stay and succeed in employment. These include the Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, Access to Work and Disability Confident. The response to the Health is Everyone’s Business consultation, published last year, set out actions to minimise the risk of ill-health related job loss.

The last Spending Review and departmental funding allocation process assessed the current support available to help disabled people and people with health conditions, including those with multiple sclerosis, to succeed in the labour market and set future plans. Over the next three years, this government will invest £1.3bn in employment support for disabled people and people with health conditions. This will build up our provision further, including extending and expanding contracted employment support.