23 July 2004 - Government delivering real change for disabled people - Eagle
Minister for Disabled People Maria Eagle today called on the public sector to deliver a programme of real change to make the rights of disabled people a top priority.
Speaking on the day of the publication of Delivering Equality for Disabled People, Ms Eagle said that the public sector had a responsibility to lead the way in rights and attitudes.
“The public sector has a key role to play in making sure that the rights and opportunities of disabled people are not ignored. I want to see a real commitment from them to lead the way both as an employer and as a service provider.
“This consultation is vital if the public sector is to champion the rights of disabled people and I want everyone working within or outside the public sector to tell us what they think. This is why we will be holding public events for people to get involved in.
“Discrimination has no place in modern society. In the same way that the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 introduced the need to eliminate racial discrimination, this measure is part of a package from the Government to stamp out discrimination for Britain’s 10 million disabled people”.
As part of the recommendations of the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill, public bodies will be under a new duty to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people as well as making sure they do not discriminate when carrying out public functions.
Major organisations delivering important public services such as health and education will be required to publish and implement a plan setting out how they will improve the way they deal with disabled people.
Notes for editors
- The consultation document Delivering Equality for Disabled People can be obtained from www.tso.co.uk (Cm6255 ISBN:0101625529) and will shortly be available from the DWP website.
- The document explains how the Government expects two key measures in the draft Disability Discrimination Bill to work in practice, the extension of the DDA to cover public functions; and the introduction of the duty to promote equality.
- The consultation document sets out what the Government expects to require public authorities to include within their Disability Equality Scheme – which is the plan they will be required to publish and implement. These include:
- a list of the actions the authority intends to take to promote equality;
- a list of the measures the authority intends to monitor in order to assess whether it is making progress towards equality of opportunity for disabled people.
- The measures are closely related to the reforms introduced by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, which implemented the recommendations of the Macpherson inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence.
- Before the new duties are implemented, the Disability Rights Commission will publish guidance to public authorities to help them comply with the duty. The information gathered in this consultation will enable the Disability Rights Commission to ensure that their guidance meets the needs of public authorities.
- Members of the public, people working in the public sector, and anyone else with an interest can comment on the proposals either in writing, or at a series of public events. The consultation period ends on 21st October 2004. Details of remaining events, which will take place in other major cities, will appear on www.disability.gov.uk or can be obtained from events-disability@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
- The Draft Disability Discrimination Bill was published on 3rd December 2003. The draft bill has been through pre legislative scrutiny and the Government’s response to the Report of the Joint Committee can be found at www.disability.gov.uk/legislation/ddb/response.asp
- The Government intends to enact the Bill within this Parliament.
For more information contact Tracy Lee on 020 7238 0756
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Website: www.dwp.gov.uk