VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Employment: Chronic Illnesses and Disability

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 21 May 2025UIN 52572

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure workplaces are accessible for people with (a) multiple medical conditions and (b) less visible disabilities.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

This Government is committed to improving the access to and retention of disabled people and those with health conditions in the workplace.

To this end, as part of Get Britain Working, the Keep Britain Working review being undertaken by Sir Charlie Mayfield is considering what more employers and government can do to enable employers to recruit and retain people with health conditions and disabilities and promote healthy and inclusive workplaces.

The Pathways to Work paper builds on this by consulting on enhancements to support for workplace adjustments. Earlier this year, we also launched an independent panel of academics with expertise and experiences of neurodiversity to advise us on boosting neurodiversity awareness and inclusion at work.

In the meantime, we continue to run a digital information service which provided tailored guidance for businesses to support employees to remain in work and to oversee the Disability Confident Scheme which encourages employers to create inclusive and accessible workplaces.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim