To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February to Question 125982 with reference to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's recommendation that the Government reopen the Access to Elected Office Fund, what support she provides for people with disabilities who are seeking elected office.
Answered on
28 February 2018
The Equality Act 2010 provides a number of protections for disabled people in situations including employment, education and the provision of goods and services.
Political parties are within the scope of the Act. They must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to ensure that they are not put at a significant disadvantage in accessing membership, and associated rights and benefits when compared to people without disabilities.
This duty means that political parties are required to provide reasonable additional support to disabled candidates to ensure, so far as possible, that they have the same access as non-disabled candidates.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has recently launched a guide for political parties on their responsibilities under Equality Act 2010, which provides further information on their legal responsibilities. A link is below:
The Local Government Association has guidance on how disabled people can become councillors, a link to which is below:
https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/be-councillor-guide-disab-e85.pdf