Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Departments will commence the series of regular disability surveys as set out in the National Disability Strategy published in July 2021.

The 2021 National Disability Strategy set out an ambition to improve the lives of millions of disabled people in the UK. In January 2022, the High Court declared the strategy to be unlawful because the UK Disability Survey, which informed it, was held to be a voluntary consultation that failed to comply with the legal requirements on public consultations. The DWP Secretary of State has been granted permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal.

In order to ensure compliance with the Court’s declaration, we are obliged to pause a limited number of policies which are referred to in the strategy, or are directly connected with it. This policy is not one of the policies we have been obliged to pause.

ONS started work on developing a survey into disabled people’s experiences and barriers in 2022 and to date the following have been completed:

ONS

• Designed the sampling method and agreed the sample sources
• Designed and costed the survey operational delivery
• Designed and cognitively tested the paper materials
• Drafted and tested invitation letters, respondent reminders and survey leaflets
• Completed some cognitive testing of commissioned questions / requirements
• Tested several questions and responses with both disabled and non-disabled people
• Developed and implemented an engagement plan for the survey

The Disability Unit:

• Is exploring options for funding and/or sponsorship to make the survey a reality (for example by working with business and research funders, as well as Government departments).

Further work is being undertaken by ONS on question development and testing, which will then lead to a pilot survey to develop future analytical products.