Welsh Conservatives have met with the UK Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller MP, to discuss the UK Government’s proposals to support more disabled people into mainstream employment.
AMs Mark Isherwood, Angela Burns and Andrew RT Davies, met the Minister to discuss her plans to use the Conservative-led Coalition’s £320million protected budget for disability employment more effectively.
Mark Isherwood AM, Shadow Minister for Communities and Housing said, “I understand the Conservative-led Coalition’s moves to refocus the protected disability employment budget on disabled people themselves rather than institutions and welcome the expansion of support available to disabled people.
“Disabled people have every right to access the same opportunities as everyone else.
“With funding following the individual we can support more disabled people into mainstream work rather than funding segregated factories.
“It is very welcome that in challenging economic times, the £320million budget for supporting disabled people into employment is being protected to help disabled people play their full role in the workplace.
“An additional £15million has also been added to the ‘Access to Work’ programme, which has already benefitted 1,500 disabled people in Wales.
“I also welcome the £8million to ensure there is accessible support for every disabled member of staff affected by the changes at Remploy.
“I have called for annual statistics to be made publicly available clearly showing support available for disabled workers.
“It is so disappointing that despite initiating a process of reforming funding to Remploy during the last Labour government, which led to a greater number of job losses, that Labour politicians are lining up to use Remploy as a political football.”
