Disability Agenda Scotland

PRESS RELEASE

EMBARGOED TILLTHURSDAY, 16th APRIL 2014, 00:01 HOURS

ONE MILLION disabled voters and their families in Scotland could hold the balance of power in one of the UK's tightest general elections, says the Disability Agenda Scotland (DAS) coalition - but political parties must commit to delivering real change for disabled people if they want their votes, it warns.

At the publication of their joint manifesto today [Thursday, April 16th], the DAS coalition of Scotland's six leading disability charities is urging all parties contesting the May 7th election to commit to their vision for a fairer, more inclusive society.

Its manifesto, 'A Million Votes Count: Our Vision for an Equal Future', outlines ten key steps that DAS insists a new Westminster government must take to ensure equality for the one million disabled voters and their families in Scotland.

DAS says the steps could radically improve everything from disability benefits to accessible transport. Its challenge comes as the political parties release their own manifestos this week.

The proposals - developed by service-users across all six DAS member organisations - will be debated at a fully accessible election hustings event in Glasgow on April 27th, chaired by broadcaster Shereen Nanjiani. People with a range of disabilities will question representatives from the main political parties.

DAS policy group chair Jan Savage said:

“The Scottish vote is being courted by all parties in this general election. In such a tight general election race, Scotland’s one million disabled people and their families will have a crucial impact on the outcome at Westminster. Their votes matter and political parties need to commit to deliver real change to get those votes.

“Since the last general election, households with disabled adults and children have experienced a reduction of £1,900 per year in annual income – bad enough, but even more shocking when you know that this is three times the reduction experienced by non-disabled households.

“Faced with a possible £12 billion of further cuts in welfare spending that could hit disabled people and their families hardest, we are calling on political parties to stand up and protect the rights of disabled people in Scotland and throughout the UK.

“We are calling on all parties to commit to our ten key steps to deliver real change for disabled people in areas such as work, welfare, transport and inclusive communication. These are the areas where the government is failing to deliver for disabled people to be full members of society.

"If the leaders of all parties will commit to implementing the ten key steps, it will help bridge the gap between the rhetoric and the reality of equality for many disabled people and their families. It can be done. Our question is – do they have the political will? One million voters in Scotland are watching closely to find out.”

ENDS

Notes

  1. Disability Agenda Scotland (DAS) is an alliance of Scotland’s leading disability charities – Action on Hearing Loss Scotland, Capability Scotland, Enable Scotland, RNIB Scotland, SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and Sense Scotland. Collectively we have more than 500 years of experience covering physical disabilities, sensory impairment, learning disability, communication support needs and mental health.
  1. There are 988,430 people categorised as disabled living in Scotland from infants to adults. This number is drawn from the 2011 Census.
  1. The attached list of Westminster constituencies is drawn from 2011 Census data. It allows local media to give figures for the number of disabled people in their circulation/audience area. This includes anyone categorised as disabled infant to adult. Disabled includes deafness and partial hearing, blindness and partial blindness, learning disability, learning difficulties , developmental disorder, physical disability, mental health condition and other conditions
  1. The 10 Key Steps in the Manifesto:
  1. Retain the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998
  2. Adopt a ‘no detriment to disabled people’ principle in the transfer of legislative competence from the UK to the Scottish Parliament
  3. Deliver the commitments of the Smith Commission via the forthcoming Scotland Bill on Clause 16 (Disability and Carers Benefits), Clause 18 (Discretionary Payments), and Clause 22 (Employment Support)
  4. In the drafting of the Scotland Bill, ensure compatibility and consistency with current primary legislation during transfer of legal competency to the Scottish Parliament
  5. Devolve and improve Access to Work fully in parallel to the devolution of Work Programme and Work Choice via the Scotland Bill
  6. Support disabled people to prepare for, access and stay in meaningful paid work by broadening the function of Jobcentre Plus and employment programmes to include job retention and readiness
  7. Redesign elements of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance benefits to better empower, and not discriminate against, disabled people
  8. Invest in specialist financial inclusion services for disabled people to ensure that people are accessing the support they need to live the life they choose
  9. Develop a national ‘kitemark’ scheme for Inclusive Communication which includes training and advice on making information accessible to all
  10. Enforce the Equality Act 2010 by ensuring that a condition of all public investment in transport infrastructure is a commitment to improving accessibility for disabled people
  1. Likely £12 billion budget cuts revealed in 2015 budget

JAN SAVAGE is available for interview.

For further information, please contact ROSS GILLIGAN at DAS on 07817810845, IAN BROWN at RNIB Scotland on 0131 652 3164 or 07918 053 952; or WILLIE CAIRNS, ENABLE Scotland on 01698 737065.