Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Written Statement of 17 May 2018, HCWS695, whether those funds are available to parliamentary candidates seeking (a) to stand in any parliamentary by-elections that may occur between June 2018 and May 2019 and (b) to stand for selection for a parliamentary seat that is selecting in the next 12 months ahead of the next General Election.

As I stated on 17 May this year, the Government believes that political parties have the prime responsibility for supporting their disabled candidates. There will be ways that the Government can help, which is why I announced that the Government Equalities Office will, with others, undertake a programme of work in this area. Within 12 months, we hope to have political parties offering and advertising support, as well as solutions to help independent candidates. Disability stakeholders including More United will be consulted as part of this work.

The funding of up to £250,000 that I announced is intended to provide support for disabled candidates in the interim, while that programme of work is on-going. This fund will primarily support the forthcoming English local elections in 2019, but similar arrangements for any parliamentary by-elections that occur until May 2019, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

My officials are liaising with the Cabinet Office, which is responsible for electoral law, on any measures that may be required to ensure grants from the fund are not considered to be part of a candidate’s election expenses.