You are here:

Defra publishes report on disability equality

   

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Ref: 378/08
Date: 1 December 2008

Ground breaking new reports on disability equality in Government have been published today.

The reports by eleven Secretaries of State, including Hilary Benn, are the first of their kind. They identify progress made  towards disability equality by each Government department and show where improvements can still be made.

The reports highlight how Government departments and relevant public bodies will work together to adopt best practice  and the environment needed for real and lasting change in disability equality. The Office for Disability Issues has produced an overview of the Secretary of State reports, highlighting key findings from each. This can be found at: www.officefordisability.gov.uk/working/ded.asp.

Defra’s report can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/diversity/disability/sos-report.

Also published by the Office for Disability Issues today is their annual report and additional research on the Disability Equality Duty.

Notes to editors

  1. The Disability Equality Duty, which came into force in December 2006, requires public bodies to promote disability equality and give due regard to eliminating unlawful discrimination, while carrying out their functions. The Duty also placed a requirement on certain Secretaries of State to publish a report every three years, to show progress made across their policy sectors towards disability equality, and what coordinated actions are proposed to make further improvements. Their purpose is to encourage leadership on disability equality across the public sector to deliver a comprehensive range of practical actions which would improve outcomes for disabled people.

End

Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960

Public enquiries: 08459 335577
News releases available on our website:
www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development

Page published: 1 December 2008