DISABLED PEOPLE IN EMPLOYMENT

That this House notes that in 2007 around 350,000 people moved from employment on to incapacity benefit and that a fifth of these, 70,000 people, were on this benefit for less than three months; believes that with early intervention and the right help and support many of these people could have been supported to retain their employment; further believes that more advice and support is needed to assist employers in understanding and acting on their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to make reasonable adjustments to help employees who experience ill health or disability stay in work; and therefore welcomes measures contained in the Employment Retention Bill to put in place a framework of rights, advice and support, ensuring that people who experience ill-health or disability whilst in work, and their employers, are supported to retain that employment whenever possible.