Written question asked by Valerie Davey (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which disability-specific national programmes his Department is funding for supported employment; and what plans he has to fund a national supported employment programme for people with autism and Asperger Syndrome.

Answer: Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which disability-specific national programmes his Department is funding for supported employment; and what plans he has to fund a national supported employment programme for people with autism and Asperger Syndrome. [77282] Mr. Nicholas Brown: WORKSTEP is a national supported employment programme for disabled people who have complex barriers to finding and keeping work. The programme is not specific to any one disability but instead is designed to help all disabled people meeting the criteria to work in a supportive environment and, where possible, to progress in mainstream employment. In addition, Disability Employment Advisers based in Jobcentres work with local employers to place people into jobs, making use of other specialist programmes such as Access to Work where necessary. These arrangements have enabled people with many different disability-related barriers to work, including those with autism and Asperger syndrome, to move successfully into jobs.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 77282; 392 c655W;392 c669W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Disability Autism Employment Employment schemes Asperger's syndrome Workstep
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk