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
5 results
Clear
9 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - Unequal impact? Coron…
Assessing needs and securing provision for children and young people meeting the threshold for EHC...
Assessing needs and securing provision for children and young people meeting the threshold for EHC Plans was an extreme challenge for local authorities during the peak of the pandemic earlier this year. Local authorities could not have been expected to … Read more
Government Response
The government states it kept temporary changes to EHC Plan duties under close review and restored full support by July 31st. They do not intend to issue further notices to modify the EHC duty unless evidence changes, thereby implicitly rejecting the need to review processes for making faster decisions to return to full duties.
Government Equalities Office
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11 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - Unequal impact? Coron…
If the Secretary of State for Education’s power to invoke the “reasonable endeavours” duty in...
If the Secretary of State for Education’s power to invoke the “reasonable endeavours” duty in relation to EHC Plans is to remain in place, we recommend the Department for Education update its guidance to local authorities to include the factors … Read more
Government Response
The government states it does not intend to issue any further notices to modify the EHC plan duty unless evidence changes, effectively rejecting the recommendations to update guidance with minimum standards and examples or to issue notices on a local basis only, as they do not plan to reintroduce such flexibilities.
Government Equalities Office
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13 Recommendation Rejected
1st Report - Unequal impact? Coron…
We consider the section 98 arrangements for six-monthly parliamentary review of temporary Coronavirus Act provisions...
We consider the section 98 arrangements for six-monthly parliamentary review of temporary Coronavirus Act provisions unsatisfactory. The Act prescribes a binary “take all or leave all” vote, which will present MPs with no real choice over provisions which have clear … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to arrange separate votes on individual Coronavirus Act provisions, stating that existing mechanisms like the six-monthly review and renewal vote, alongside two-monthly reports, provide sufficient and proportionate parliamentary scrutiny.
Government Equalities Office
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4 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Cor…
We further recommend the Government consider, with disabled people, as part of its consultation on...
We further recommend the Government consider, with disabled people, as part of its consultation on the proposed National Strategy for Disabled People, the steps needed to more effectively adopt a social model of disability in relation to maintaining disabled people’s … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly rejects the recommendation, stating that existing law is clear enough and a Code of Practice would not improve the situation regarding disabled people's access to food.
Government Equalities Office
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18 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth report: Unequal impact? Cor…
The way the Government has communicated with disabled people has, on occasions, caused confusion and...
The way the Government has communicated with disabled people has, on occasions, caused confusion and compounded already keenly felt anxiety. The chosen method and timing of communications with people categorised as clinically extremely vulnerable, and therefore likely to be living … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that training for Ministers and officials is optional rather than a mandatory requirement.
Government Equalities Office
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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’
Parliament page
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
Parliament page