Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to promote equal access to intern opportunities for all; and how many disabled people have received help from the Access to Work Fund in order to participate fully in internship programmes.

Her Majesty’s Government promote equal access to intern opportunities through a series of communications strands such as:

· The rising awareness of Disability Confident Britain and it’s media profile will help increase awareness of the Access to Work (AtW) support available;

· Continually improving and developing Advisory knowledge and skills in supporting Disabled People into work and remaining in work, and;

· Marketing the Jobcentre Plus offer directly to employers and other organisations and institutions.

Moreover, Access to Work gives practical support and help to meet additional costs to overcome barriers. AtW can usually support people only in paid internships, however we have extended Access to Work to cover the Supported internships scheme for young people with special educational needs and for young people undertaking Traineeships. DWP does not have a robust means of reporting programme volumes for internships.