Commenting on the reports that the Prime Minister has ordered David Blunkett to toughen up the proposed incapacity benefit reforms by cutting the level of benefit and introducing time-limits, David Laws MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:
Paul Burstow MP has welcomed the Government's U-turn on excluding certain cancers from protection under new Disability Discrimination laws.
Commenting on assurances given today at ODPM Questions, by Local Government Minister Phil Woolas MP, that the Government was engaged in discussions with the British Toilet Association to stem the declining number of public toilets, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable said:
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport stated in its Annual Report 2005 that it was 'on course' for achieving its joint targets for increasing participation by under-represented groups in arts events. However the Annual Report also states that since 2001 the number of disabled people attending at least two arts events, and the number of socially excluded people participating in at least two arts events, has actually fallen.
Commenting on the three Welfare Reform Bills announced in the Queen's Speech, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, David Laws MP said:
A letter from the Department for Work and Pensions to Paul Holmes MP has thrown into doubt the Government's support for the New Deal for people with disabilities, despite Gordon Brown's statement yesterday that abolishing the New Deal would mean they could not move people off incapacity benefits into work.
