Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Jun 2020 Closed: 4 Nov 2021 Parliament page
Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services Watch a British Sign Language explainer video for the Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: full Report Watch a British Sign Language explainer video for the Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: interim Report on temporary provisions in … Read more
23 Recommendations
12 Conclusions
2 Reports
3 Oral sessions
7 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 14 events
17 May
2021
Correspondence
14 Apr
2021
Report published
13 Apr
2021
Correspondence
13 Apr
2021
Correspondence
18 Mar
2021
Correspondence
18 Mar
2021
Correspondence
23 Feb
2021
Correspondence
25 Jan
2021
Report published
22 Dec
2020
Report published
5 Nov
2020
Correspondence
25 Sep
2020
Report published
2 Sep
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
2 Sep 2020
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Antonia Williams · HM Treasury Helen Whately MP · Department of Health and Social Care Justin Tomlinson · Department for Work and Pensions Martin Woolhead · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Sarah Baker · Disability Unit Vicky Ford · Department of Education Victoria Prentis · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
22 Jul 2020
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Ali Fidy · Independent Provider of Special Education Advice Celia Ingham-Clark MBE · NHS England Charlotte Ramsden · Association of Directors of Children’s Services Kate Terroni · Care Quality Commission Professor Gillian Leng CBE · NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) Simon Williams · Local Government Association
24 Jun 2020
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Edel Harris · Mencap Fazilet Hadi · Disability Rights UK Ms Ayla Ozmen · Action on Hearing Loss Sarah Hughes · Centre for Mental Health
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
6 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - Unequal impact? Coron…
Had the pandemic been more clearly under control, we would have recommended repeal of the...
Had the pandemic been more clearly under control, we would have recommended repeal of the Care Act easements at the first six-monthly review. However, the current precarious state of the pandemic, combined with the fragility of the social care system, … Read more
Government Response
The government states that changes to Care Act duties will be kept under regular review, with suspension decisions based on expert advice and the existing six-monthly review and renewal processes of the Coronavirus Act 2020. They also refer to the Adult Social Care Winter plan for preparedness.
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7 Recommendation Acknowledged
1st Report - Unequal impact? Coron…
On balance, and subject to our other recommendations to tighten guidance and increase transparency being...
On balance, and subject to our other recommendations to tighten guidance and increase transparency being implemented, we accept that the Care Act easement provisions may need to remain in place over the winter period. The Government should keep the need … Read more
Government Response
The government states that Care Act easements will be kept under regular review, with suspension decisions based on expert advice and the existing six-monthly review and renewal mechanisms of the Coronavirus Act 2020. It also references the Adult Social Care Winter Plan.
Government Equalities Office
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12 Recommendation Acknowledged
1st Report - Unequal impact? Coron…
At the time of writing, the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020,...
At the time of writing, the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, which temporarily modify the time limits in relation to EHC assessment and Plans, were due to expire on 25 September. This will add further pressure … Read more
Government Response
The government is working with individual local authorities to support their pandemic response, including managing overdue EHC assessment cases, and identifying good practice. Ofsted and CQC have also been commissioned to undertake interim visits to local areas to understand the pandemic's impact on SEND children and gather learning.
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Cor…
The Government’s focus on people defined as “clinically extremely vulnerable” (CEV) to the virus, while...
The Government’s focus on people defined as “clinically extremely vulnerable” (CEV) to the virus, while rational from a medical perspective, was an inappropriate proxy for the need for support with access to food and had unintended consequences. It was rapidly … Read more
Government Response
The government states it will ask disabled people about the impact of the coronavirus emergency and, if requested, will include a plan for fair food access in emergencies in the National Strategy for Disabled People.
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3 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Cor…
We welcome the steps the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has taken to emphasise...
We welcome the steps the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has taken to emphasise that food retailers’ legal obligations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people have remained in place throughout the pandemic. We fully endorse its new guidance … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has checked its efforts to ensure fair food access for disabled people, made some changes, and will continue to monitor and adjust, but does not commit to publicly stating the importance of reasonable adjustments or promoting EHRC guidance as recommended.
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Cor…
We welcome the Government’s educational catch up fund made up of £650 million to be...
We welcome the Government’s educational catch up fund made up of £650 million to be allocated across all schools and £350 million for pupils in more disadvantaged schools to access subsidised small group tutoring and mentoring.
Government Response
The government responded that it would 'think about looking at what happened during the Coronavirus emergency afterwards', a vague statement that did not specifically engage with the committee's welcome of the educational catch-up fund.
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17 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Cor…
There was a clear divergence of opinion between some disabled people and their organisations, who...
There was a clear divergence of opinion between some disabled people and their organisations, who felt excluded and ignored by the Government, and Ministers, who described their engagement with disabled stakeholders during the pandemic as very positive, open and effective. … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of disabled people influencing policies and outlines existing engagement methods, stating they will consider this input for the UK National Strategy for Disabled People, but does not commit to new consultation mechanisms.
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19 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Cor…
The accessibility of the Government’s communications to disabled people during the pandemic has been poor...
The accessibility of the Government’s communications to disabled people during the pandemic has been poor from the outset of lockdown in March. The Government has been far too slow to address concerns, notably about the lack of British Sign Language … Read more
Government Response
The government states its desire for accessible information and its ongoing efforts to provide it in accessible ways, working with disability organizations, but does not commit to fully implementing the specific list of asks from RNID and other charities by the recommended deadline.
Government Equalities Office
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20 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Cor…
NHS health and publicly funded social care services are legally required, by the Accessible Information...
NHS health and publicly funded social care services are legally required, by the Accessible Information Standard, published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, to provide health and care information to patients and service users in … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of accessible information and states that departments already have legal obligations under other laws, with guidance provided by the Equality Hub, but does not commit to extending the Accessible Information Standard as requested.
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Government Response AI assessment · 34 of 23 classified
Accepted 2
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 9
Deferred 4
Not Addressed 13
Rejected 5
Total 23 recs + 12 conclusions
Correspondence 7 letters
17 May 2021 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families to the Chair relating to the Committee’s report ‘Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: full Report’
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13 Apr 2021 Correspondence from the Minister for Care to the Chair relating to the Temporary Coronavirus Act provisions affecting disabled people
Parliament page
13 Apr 2021 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to the Chair for Children and Families relating to the Temporary Coronavirus Act provisions affecting disabled people
Parliament page
18 Mar 2021 Correspondence to the Minister for Care relating to the Temporary Coronavirus Act provisions affecting disabled people
Parliament page
18 Mar 2021 Correspondence to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families relating to the Temporary Coronavirus Act provisions affecting disabled people
Parliament page
23 Feb 2021 Correspondence to the Chair from the Equality and Human Rights Commission relating to the Committee’s recommendations in Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services
Parliament page
5 Nov 2020 Correspondence from the Minister for Disabled People to the Chair regarding their appearance before the Committee
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