After a long delay, the Government’s disability strategy is finally on its way “soon” (heard that one before!).

Disabled people are hoping for radical policies that improve their lives, but will it just be warm words and no real action?

I asked the Minister for Disabled People, JustinTomlinson MP, to convince us.

Video below.

Full text

My question to the Minister:

Like the review of the special rules for terminal illness, the Government’s disability strategy has been much delayed.

After two long years, we are told to expect it soon.

Disabled people are hoping for radical policies that improve their lives. However, many fear it will contain warm words and platitudes, but no real action.

Can the Minister convince us today that his strategy will be published with a fanfare and not just a whimper?

Minister Tomlinson’s response:

Mr Speaker, absolutely.

And I am very grateful for all of those stakeholders and those with real lived experience,

including disabled people themselves who have been working with us, not just on the SRTI proposed changes,

our forthcoming health and disability green paper that will look at both disability benefits and  support,

and disability employment, for which we have delivered record amounts of support and records amounts of disability employment,

and our national strategy for disabled people that has the Prime Minister’s personal support and will be the first time there will be genuine cross-government focus

to create a more inclusive barrier, all of which are due very very soon and I am very confident they will be well received.