Disability employment gap: Work and Pensions Committee holds oral evidence session – Wednesday March 24th at 9.30am

The Work and Pensions Committee is to question policy experts and representatives from local authorities, support organisations and business in the fourth oral evidence session of the disability employment gap inquiry.

The inquiry is investigating the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people and how the Department for Work and Pensions can better support disabled people in the labour market.

The session will examine issues around measuring the disability employment gap and the support available for disabled people, both in and out of work. It will also explore the role of both local authorities and employers in providing support.

The disability employment gap is the difference between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people. Official data on disabled peoples’ employment rates shows a gap of 28.6 percentage points, with 53.2% of disabled people in employment compared with 81.8% non-disabled people.

Witness schedule:

Wednesday 24^th March at 9.30am

Panel 1

• Lord Shinkwin, Chair, The Centre for Social Justice Disability Commission
• Matthew Oakley, Director, WPI Economics
• Angela Matthews, Head of Policy and Research, Business Disability Forum

Panel 2

• Matthew Ainsworth, Assistant Director of Education, Skills & Work, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
• Clare Gray, Organisational Lead for Disability Advocacy, Shaw Trust
• Huw Davies, Chief Executive, British Association for Supported Employment