DA: Public bodies must carry out impact assessments for disabled people

1st September 2010

National charity Disability Alliance (DA) has said that equality legislation demands that all public organisations carry out impact assessments on their policies to consider the disproportionate effect they may have on people with disabilities.

However, the body - producer of the annual publication Disability Rights Handbook and provider of information regarding tax credits, social care and social security benefits for disabled people - believes that the treasury failed to do this for the Emergency Budget.

During an interview on Radio 4 earlier this week, MP Mark Hoban was unable to confirm that this had in fact taken place, although the question was put to him five times.

Chief executive with DA Vanessa Stanislas noted disabled people need greater support from government benefits and services and stated that "to hear that the government announced the Budget without considering whether disabled people will be disproportionately affected by cuts to public spending and benefit reform is deeply alarming".

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