Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide an update on the Access to Elected Office Fund; and when it is likely that applications for support will open.

It is this government’s ambition to see more disabled people in public office. We have been clear that we will champion disabled people’s rights and work closely with them so that disabled people’s views and voices are at the heart of decision-making.

We have been working to develop a new fund to assist with the additional disability-related costs of contesting elected office. More information about the fund will be announced in due course.