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Written question asked by Alex Norris (Labour) on Friday, 2 September 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 September 2022. It was answered by Paul Scully (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 September 2022 on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department plans to publish a formal update on the proposed successor scheme to the Access to Elected Office and enable funds that support disabled candidates running for elected office, as outlined in Part One of the National Disability Strategy.

Answer

The Government wants to see more disabled people in public office. The Government has been clear that the responsibility for supporting disabled candidates sits with political parties and that the EnAble Fund was an interim measure to give parties time to put their own support in place.

The Government is committed to seeing more people with disabilities standing for local elections and becoming councillors. As part of the DLUHC funded 2022/23 local government sector support programme, delivered by the Local Government Association and launched in April this year, DLUHC supports a scheme which includes:

  • a coaching programme for disabled councillors to support them as resilient and confident leaders of their communities;
  • a campaign to attract more people with disabilities to stand for council elections and a new 'Be a Councillor' guide for disabled candidates who are considering standing for the 2023 elections, and;
  • a bespoke leadership development programme for disabled councillors, which provides councillors with unique networking opportunities and support.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
45223
Session
2022-23
Related items
National Disability Strategy
Wednesday, 28 July 2021
Command papers
House of Lords
House of Commons
Subjects
Disability Elections Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk