House of Commons has many more disabled MPs than previously thought, ‘heartening’ new figures show

“Positive” new figures show there are far more disabled MPs in the House of Commons than previously thought, and possibly as many as 40.

Even after the addition of at least three new disabled MPs after July’s general election – Labour’s Dr Marie Tidball and Jen Craft, and Liberal Democrat Steve Darling – it was thought there was still only a handful.

Disability News Service (DNS) estimated last month that there were about nine MPs who identify as disabled people, compared to possibly as few as five in the last parliament.

But figures obtained this week under the Freedom of Information Act by Disability News Service (DNS) show there are far more than that in the new parliament.

They show that 43 out of a total of 650 MPs had discussed the possibility of having disability-related adjustments made for them, after every MP was approached with an offer of support by House of Commons authorities when they were elected in July.

The figures show that, by 14 July, in response to this approach, 43 MPs had said they would like to discuss workplace adjustments.

Of those 43, 28 subsequently had workplace adjustments agreed, although five said they no longer required any support.

The other 10 had been contacted and provided with information by the House of Commons team, although adjustments had not been agreed by 14 July.

Although not all of those who have requested adjustments will self-describe as a disabled person, the figures show a huge increase on the seven MPs who had workplace adjustments agreed in the last parliament.

Among the adjustments provided were voice recognition software and arrangements for documents to be provided in large print and other accessible formats, as well as dyslexia and dyspraxia assessments and subsequent job analysis and coaching.

Other support included having an office in an appropriate location, technological assistance, and other support provided by the House of Commons diversity and inclusion team.

The House of Commons said it had been working with the Business Disability Forum and had appointed a workplace adjustment case manager to be a point of contact for disabled colleagues.

Fazilet Hadi, head of policy at Disability Rights UK, said: “This is really positive news.

“It’s heartening to know that 28 MPs, four times as many as in the previous parliament, have received workplace adjustments, with more requests in the pipeline.

“Whilst there were more disabled MPs in the previous parliament than the five who officially stated they were in 2019, this step-up in numbers is very welcome.

“The changes in work practise following Covid may be playing some part, as requests for flexibilities and adjustments are now more normalised.”

But she said the representation of disabled people in parliament remained far too low, despite the new figures.

Hadi said: “Despite the positive increase in disabled MPs, the representation of disabled people remains low, given almost one in four of us has a disability.

“We would urge all MPs with a disability or long-term health condition, whether they need a workplace adjustment or not, to speak out about it.

“We need diversity of lived experience in the House of Commons.

“Disabled people need to be confident that our concerns are heard and represented.”

Asked whether the figures showed there were more disabled MPs in the current parliament than the last, or if there were just more MPs requesting adjustments, a parliamentary spokesperson said: “It is vital that parliament is accessible to all.

“The House of Commons has offered proactive adjustment support for newly-elected MPs, who were asked upon election whether they anticipated that they would require any adjustments or had a health condition or disability that may require support.

“We understand that there is more to be done to ensure that disabled people do not face unnecessary difficulties when working in or visiting parliament – and we are committed to making further essential adjustments, ensuring that all our staff are trained in disability awareness.”

The Inclusion and Diversity Strategy 2023-27 published by the House of Commons and the Parliamentary Digital Service describes the intention to address structural barriers, minimise delays to making repairs or adjustments, and ensure more accessible, appropriate shared working environments.

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