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Learning disabilities (2017)

Request

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  1. Is the House of Commons a “Disability Confident” registered employer? If not, does it have plans to apply?
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  3. Since the beginning of Theresa May’s Government (July 2016), how many people are employed by the House of Commons who are registered as having learning disabilities?
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  5. What percentage of total number of employees does this figure represent?
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Response

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  1. Is the House of Commons a “Disability Confident” registered employer? If not, does it have plans to apply?
    This information is held by the House of Commons. The House of Commons has not yet registered as a Disability Confident employer but intends to do so by the end of 2017, as part of our efforts as a disability smart organisation.
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  3. Since the beginning of Theresa May’s Government (July 2016), how many people are employed by the House of Commons who are registered as having learning disabilities?
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  5. What percentage of total number of employees does this figure represent?
    Some information is held by the House of Commons. The House does not oblige staff to provide details of disability; rather it invites staff to make a voluntary declaration on our Diversity Monitoring form. We can provide data about staff who have made a declaration, but please note that this may not include all House staff with a disability. Additionally, staff are not required to provide the nature of their disability to the organisation, and therefore we do not hold information relating specifically to the number of staff who have declared a learning disability.
    Between 1 July 2016 and 27 January 2017, 63 members of staff employed by the House of Commons have declared a disability, which is 3% of staff.
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The following information may also be helpful;

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  • The House of Commons was accredited with the Silver Award in the Disability Standard by the Business Disability Forum in 2016, achieving a score of 83%. Additionally, the House of Commons participates in Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week, in association with Mencap and Inclusive Employers. The House hosted four individuals on this scheme in 2016.
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  • The House uses statistical data from the Diversity Monitoring Form to compile a Diversity Monitoring Report for House of Commons and the Parliamentary Digital Service. This report includes details of staff disability and the results are published online. The latest report, from October 2015, is publicly available on the parliamentary web pages. The next diversity monitoring report will be published in Spring 2017.
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  • The House of Commons has a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Strategy, which is our plan for making the House a more diverse and inclusive employer and service provider. It has a number of measures aimed at improving the representation of under-represented groups, especially at senior level. Progress of the D&I Strategy is reported quarterly to the House of Commons Commission and further information is available on the parliamentary webpages.
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  • The House of Commons and House of Lords have established Workplace Equality Networks (WENs) to provide an opportunity for groups of people to discuss and consider issues relevant to their situation or of interest to them. In particular, WENs can be useful forums for groups protected by equality legislation. WENs are open to all pass holders in the Commons, Lords, Parliamentary Digital Service, contractors employed by Parliament, MPs, Lords and their staff. Further information on the Workplace Equality Networks can be found on the parliamentary webpages.
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  • ParliAble is a Workplace Equality Network (WEN) in support of disabled people in Parliament. It is open to both those who consider themselves to have a disability and those who have an interest in supporting disabled people. ParliAble aims to increase awareness and appreciation of disability issues on the Parliamentary estate, and to provide a platform where disabled people can find support, and where disability equality objectives can be progressed. Further information on ParliAble can be found on the parliamentary webpages.