EFD welcomes Work and Pensions Select Committee report on Equality Bill and disability

28th April 2009

Employers’ Forum on Disability (EFD) today (29 April) warmly welcomed the Work and Pensions Select Committee report into how disability will fit into a single Equality Act.

EFD gave evidence to the Select Committee, whose report finds that disability needs to be treated differently if disabled people are to be treated fairly.

Susan Scott-Parker, EFD’s Chief Executive, said: “We are very encouraged by the conclusions of this report. In particular, we are pleased that the committee supports our view that disability needs be treated differently if people are to be treated fairly.

“We agree with the Select Committee’s conclusion that the law on disability- related discrimination has become confusing for both employers and disabled employees since the House of Lords ruling in the Malcolm case last year.

“It is in the interests of both disabled people and employers that the law is clarified. This will help ensure organisations develop the talents of their disabled employees, as well as serve their disabled customers effectively.

"The Equality Bill is also an opportunity for Government to address the ‘e-discrimination’ that prevents 1.3 million disabled people from applying for jobs online and to ensure that disabled customers can enforce their rights through an accessible justice system.

"We hope that the Government will reconsider proposals for Equality Tribunals to hear these cases, as recommended by the Select Committee."

Ends

Notes to editors

The Select Committee's report, The Equality Bill: how disability equality fits within a single Equality Act, is available online here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmworpen.htm

Media enquiries, please contact:

Brenda Otema, Communications & Marketing Officer
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: brenda.otema@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020

About Employers' Forum on Disability

Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 300 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.

www.efd.org.uk