At a time when the word “austerity” is on the lips of every politician, there is nothing more chilling than a local councillor weighing up the life of a disabled child against the cost of maintaining a coastal footpath. Despite his […]
News Archive
Extracts from Cornwall Council’s report into DNS interview with Collin Brewer
Cornwall Council has today (8 July) published its report into comments about the costs of supporting disabled children made by independent councillor Collin Brewer in an interview with DNS on 8 May 2013. For a transcript of his comments, visit this […]
Transcript of Collin Brewer interview
Interview carried out by Disability News Service with Cornwall councillor Collin Brewer on 8 May 2013 (DNS in bold everything else by Collin Brewer): Talking about the incident in October 2011.“What I couldn’t get out because the lady [from Disability […]
DWP finally reveals ‘shocking’ number of Atos PIP assessment sites
The number of disability assessment centres provided by the controversial IT company Atos will only be one seventh of the number it promised when it won a £184 million government contract, Disability News Service (DNS) can reveal. Atos won the contract […]
Osborne’s benefits spending cap will include DLA, PIP… and ESA
Two key benefits for disabled people will be included in a new “welfare cap”, even though new government research has revealed only a tiny minority of people want to cut spending on disability benefits. The chancellor, George Osborne, announced last week […]
McVey describes the ‘shape of the future’ for disabled people
The government has announced how it intends to measure progress towards achieving greater opportunities for disabled people. In new documents published this week, the Office for Disability Issues says its Fulfilling Potential disability strategy will focus on the six “themes” of […]
Nine more Remploy factories to close, says government
The announcement that nine further Remploy factories are to close, with the loss of more than 230 disabled people’s jobs, has been described by a union as “the cruel actions of a callous government”. The Conservative minister for disabled people, Esther […]
McVey and McGuire put Commons battle ahead of disability conference
The minister for disabled people, and her Labour opposite number, have both been criticised for pulling out of a national disability conference. Esther McVey, the Conservative minister, had been due to deliver a key-note speech to the conference on her Fulfilling […]
‘Fitness for work’ appeal ruling ‘makes mockery’ of call for evidence
The government’s successful bid to win the right to appeal a ruling that its “fitness for work” test discriminates against people with mental health conditions “makes a mockery” of a new call for evidence on the assessment, say campaigners. The call […]
Disabled peer calls for care funding to save independent living
A disabled peer has warned colleagues in the House of Lords that independent living for disabled people could become “just a memory” if the government does not put enough money into the social care system. Baroness [Jane] Campbell spoke out this […]