Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy on additional incentives for employers to take on school leavers with Education, Health and Care plans.

The ministerial team and officials from the Department for Education regularly engage with their counterparts across government to ensure that there is a joined-up approach in championing support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This includes working with businesses to encourage them to see the positive impact of employing and developing the skills of disabled people through programmes such as supported internships, traineeships and apprenticeships.

In July the government published the National Disability Strategy which confirmed our vision to transform the everyday lives of disabled people. As the Department for Education, we have committed to do more to support children and young people to receive an education that pushes and supports them to reach their full potential, including preparation for employment.

We will continue to work with other government departments to deliver the commitments in the strategy.