14 June 2005 - Getting back to work can make you better - Blunkett
The Government recognised today that work has its health benefits and pledged to help employers and the medical profession work together and help disabled people back into work.
In his first disability speech as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett insisted that he and the Department of Health were determined to support disabled people back into work and that the Government had already made great progress.
Since last October, disabled employees and jobseekers have had legal protection
against discrimination from both small and large employers, under the Disability
Discrimination Act (DDA). This opened its scope to an additional 1 million
employers and 7 million jobs. The Government this year legislated to improve
and extend its powers through the DDA 2005 giving greater civil rights to
Britain’s 10 million disabled people like never before.
Mr Blunkett said:
‘’Employers are rising to the challenge of employing disabled people and the benefits of a diverse workforce. But this is not just down to employers. We need a partnership approach where health professionals and providers also play a part and recognise that moving back into work improves your health and well-being rather than the reverse. And helping employers to phase in a return to work is a key task as this involves breaking down barriers.
’’Attitudes must change. I will be working closely with colleagues across Government and in particular the Department of Health. We know that the best form of welfare is work. So the task is to put common sense into practice.’’
Mr Blunkett also gave reassurances about the Government’s plans for IB reform. ‘’We will not write you off if you don’t write yourself off. IB reform is a promise not a threat. We are aware that there are uncertainties, fears, and apprehension. We will listen and ask people to speak for themselves. We are all in this together’’.
Confirming her support, Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt said:
“Last year’s Public Health White Paper recognised the beneficial role some work can have in helping people recover from illnesses or disease. It emphasised the damaging effects of being out of work – encouraging the NHS to see return to work as the norm. I look forward to working with David in driving this change in attitudes.”
Speaking at the Remploy conference, Mr Blunkett also confirmed that the Government would continue its current level of investment in the Access to Work and Remploy schemes.
Notes for editors
- Secretary of State for Work and Pensions David Blunkett this morning delivered his keynote speech at the Remploy ‘Let’s Go to Work’ Conference at the QEII Centre in Westminster.
- The Government is already putting people with health conditions and disabilities at the centre of the support offered to help them return to work. Pathways to Work is a jobs advice and rehabilitation support programme that tailors help to the individual through specially trained Personal Advisors. Already thousands have been helped into work. By October 2006 the scheme will cover around 900,000 people on incapacity benefits.
- The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 outlaws discrimination against disabled people in employment. The employment provisions of the Act originally exempted employers with less than 20 employees. This was reduced to 15 in 1998, but from October 2004 the exemption of small employers ended altogether along with the exemption of the police, fire and prison service professions. This means not discriminating against employees or potential employees on grounds of disability and making reasonable adjustments to the workplace.
- The DDA 2005 extended the scope of the DDA. A press notice can be found at www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2005/apr/dda_royal_assent.asp
- The DDA defines disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. The estimated number of adults in Britain covered by this definition is 9.8 million.
- There are 6.9 million disabled people of working age (16-59/64) in Great Britain accounting for nearly a fifth of the working age population; 50% of disabled people of working age are in work, compared to 81% of non-disabled people (the employment rate of all employees is 75%); In Spring 1998 the employment rate of disabled people was 43.4%.
- For the Remploy website go to www.remploy.co.uk
- For further media enquiries please contact Fiona Ludlow on 020 7238 0782
Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Textphone: 020 7238 0788
www.disability.gov.uk