'Could do better': Scope assesses coalition government on its own disability pledges

12 May 2011

Ranging from an F for its approach to welfare reform to a B+ for its consultation on how to support disabled people into public life positions, Scope has scored the government on a range of issues including respite, equality, welfare reform and personalisation.

The final grade averages out at a dismal D- prompting the following response from Scope chief executive Richard Hawkes.

”The coalition government could do a lot better. Despite David Cameron's commitment that he would protect the vulnerable, the government has fallen far short of the hurdle on the majority of issues that affect disabled people. There are some admirable aims in the coalition agreement but recent policy does not suggest it is making great progress in delivering on those aims.

“We would particularly like to see the government focus on its sums so it can truly understand the impact of decisions it is making on disabled people and their lives. We would also suggest a more scientific-based approach with more evidence used to support its reforms.”

“The government needs to recognise the range of barriers disabled people face in daily life and ensure it is taking positive steps in all directions to ensure disabled people have the same opportunities to live their lives and make an active contribution to society.”

	Effort	Achievement	Final Grade
Respite	B	D	C
Welfare Reform	B+	F	D
Public Life	A	B	B+
Personalisation	B	D	C
Equality	D	D	D
Overall	C	D	D-

Respite

- Effort: B
- Achievement: D
- Final Grade: C

Government pledge from coalition agreement: “We will continue to invest in short breaks [for disabled children] by providing over £800 million over the 2011 to 2015 period.”

Scope reaction: Despite investing £800 million into short breaks for disabled children, the Government has not ring-fenced this money. This means cash-strapped local authorities could choose to spend this money elsewhere.

Welfare Reform

- Effort: B+
- Achievement: F
- Final Grade: D

Government pledge from coalition agreement: “We will reform the benefit system to make it fairer, more affordable and better able to tackle poverty, worklessness and welfare dependency.”

Scope reaction: This Government's welfare reforms are hitting disabled people hard. Many disabled people want to work but face multiple barriers to employment which the Government's Fitness for Work test does not even consider. In addition rising living costs, cuts in Disability Living Allowance, and rationing access to specialist employment support are further exacerbating disability poverty.

Public Life

- Effort: A
- Achievement: B
- Final Grade: B+

Government pledge from coalition agreement: “We will introduce extra support for people with disabilities who want to become MPs, councillors or other elected officials.”

Scope reaction: In February the Government launched a consultation to look at disabled people's access to elected office including introducing financial support for disabled people who want to take part in public life. A really good start.

Personalisation

- Effort: B
- Achievement: D
- Final Grade: C

Government pledge from coalition agreement: “We will extend the greater roll-out of personal budgets to give people and their carers more control and purchasing power.”

Scope reaction: The Government's commitment to personalisation is welcome but the impact of local authority cuts are resulting in tighter eligibility criteria for social care and a reduction in funding for advice and advocacy services which undermine this ambition.

Equality

- Effort: D
- Achievement: D
- Final Grade: D

Government pledge from coalition agreement: “This Government has already taken steps to implement most of the Equality Act 2010, which simplifies the legislative framework.”

Scope reaction: While the Government's early work on this agenda showed real promise, they have let themselves down by confusing statutory duties to provide vital disability services with 'burdensome red tape'. A public consultation on whether to scrap the Equality Act six months after it was introduced has not helped to rescue their reputation.

Final comments - Could do better

- Effort: C
- Achievement: D
- Final Grade: D-

Scope reaction: “Despite David Cameron's commitment that he would protect the vulnerable, the government has fallen far short of the hurdle on the majority of issues that affect disabled people. There are some admirable aims in the coalition agreement but recent policy does not suggest it is making great progress."

Improve Science and Maths

Scope reaction: “We would particularly like to see the government focus on its sums so it can truly understand the impact of decisions it is making on disabled people and their lives. We would also suggest a more scientific-based approach with more evidence used to support its reforms.”

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