Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to encourage industry to foster a more inclusive working environment for neurodivergent people.

We know that neurodivergent people bring many positive benefits to businesses and therefore understand the importance of encouraging employers to adopt more neuro-inclusive working practices.

The Secretary of State and Tom Pursglove (former Minister for Disabled People) are very grateful for the work you have been leading on the Review into Autism Employment, which has been exploring working practices or initiatives which can reduce stigma and create a more inclusive working environment for autistic and neurodiverse employees in the public, private and voluntary sectors. We look forward to the publication of the report early in 2024, and then to working with you, with employers, and with stakeholders to implement the recommendations from the report and encourage a more neuro-inclusive culture in the workplace.

We are also supporting employers via Disability Confident to increase their understanding of how to recruit, retain and support disabled employees and those with long term health conditions. The scheme provides employers with the skills and knowledge to remove barriers that might be preventing disabled people, neurodivergent people and those with long term health conditions from accessing employment and allows them opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.