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The minister for disabled people is facing fresh criticism for failing to carry out “meaningful” engagement with disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) during the coronavirus pandemic. Three DPOs have this week criticised the failure of Justin Tomlinson and his new Disability Unit […]
The government is facing criticism over its decision to nominate the “architect” of universal credit to be the next chair of its independent committee of advisers on social security. Dr Stephen Brien wrote Dynamic Benefits (PDF), the report that became the […]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is refusing to confirm that it is about to announce controversial plans to remove staff from their roles as specialist disability employment advisers (DEAs) and move them into mainstream positions. The department has apparently […]
The government has finally published a long-promised consultation on whether it should introduce higher accessibility standards for new housing in England, although it fails to say what kind of reforms ministers want to see. The consultation paper, Raising Accessibility Standards for […]
Disabled people who have been prevented from taking discrimination cases through the courts by the risk of potentially ruinous costs if they lose could now have a new way to secure access to justice. A link-up between a leading discrimination law […]
A court has found in favour of a disabled dad who argued that he was being discriminated against by an estate agent who prevented him viewing properties because he was claiming housing benefit. Stephen Tyler has been barred from viewing properties […]
A minister has praised supermarkets for the actions they took to support disabled shoppers during the pandemic, despite them facing a mass legal action for disability discrimination. Victoria Prentis, junior minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, repeatedly […]
A health minister has been asked why her department took five months to produce guidance that aims to protect disabled people in supported living services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Helen Whately, the social care minister, was challenged over why her department […]
Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) working on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic will be able to apply for a share of a new £1.5 million emergency fund to help them respond to the COVID-19-related needs of disabled people. Funding will be […]
The government has been accused of “showing contempt” for disabled people after publishing an “utterly shameful” 84-page white paper on the future of the planning system without including a single mention of disabled people, disability or accessible housing. The Planning for […]