The public spending watchdog is to investigate concerns over the award of a £184 million disability assessment contract to Atos Healthcare. The investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) will be part of a major “value for money study” into the […]
MPs warn government over ‘unacceptably poor’ access to transport
MPs have warned the government that it must do much more to improve access to transport for disabled people, which they say is “unacceptably poor”. The Commons transport committee this week published the results of its inquiry into the barriers faced […]
‘Landmark’ plans lay out route towards independent living in Wales
Disabled campaigners have warmly welcomed “landmark” plans that describe how the Welsh government will promote independent living. The Framework for Action on Independent Living is the country’s first cross-government disability strategy, and lays out how the government hopes to ensure disabled […]
Lib Dem conference: Party launches first review of social security since the 1940s
The Liberal Democrats are to launch their first major review of social security since the 1942 report by the Liberal William Beveridge that led to the foundation of the welfare state. The review looks set to lead to a much stronger […]
Lib Dem conference: UK Disabled People’s Manifesto wins support
A string of demands from the new UK Disabled People’s Manifesto could become official Liberal Democrat policy in time for the next general election, say leading party activists. The manifesto was launched earlier this month by Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) […]
Lib Dem conference: Clegg loses vote as party rebels over ‘bedroom tax’
Liberal Democrat ministers and MPs have felt the anger of their grassroots party members over the imposition of the coalition’s “bedroom tax” and its impact on disabled people. The removal of the government’s so-called spare room subsidy, known as the bedroom […]
Lib Dem conference: Peer and MP suggest DLA reform fears are exaggerated
Two influential Liberal Democrats have claimed that the coalition’s disability living allowance reforms (DLA) will have a far less serious impact on disabled people than the government has predicted. One senior Liberal Democrat peer told Disability News Service (DNS) at this […]
Lib Dem conference: Party adopts call for BSL to be given legal status
Liberal Democrats have unanimously backed calls for British Sign Language (BSL) to be given legal status by the UK government. It is now party policy to ask Liberal Democrat ministers to press within government for BSL – which can trace its […]
Lib Dem conference: Replacement for WCA wins cautious backing
A Liberal Democrat minister has joined other influential party figures in cautiously backing efforts by user-led campaign groups to design a replacement for the government’s hated “fitness for work” test. Disabled activists from various user-led organisations announced last week that they […]
Lib Dem conference: Lloyd’s anger over disabled people failed by Work Programme
The government’s failure to devise a strategy to cope with disabled people and others who have been failed by the Work Programme has left a disabled MP so angry he wants to “chuck someone through a window”. Stephen Lloyd, the MP […]