To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) central Government Departments’ budgets and (b) disabled people of the ending of Access to Work funding in October. (79932)

The Secretary of State is not in a position to assess the implications for other Government Departments’ budgets. However, the large majority of these workplace adjustments are inexpensive.

Our intention is that disabled staff should continue to receive the support they need as now, including obtaining advice from specialist staff in Jobcentre Plus. However, instead of their support being paid for by the Access to Work programme, it will be funded out of departmental running costs. Officials will be working with those in other Government Departments to help them implement this requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent changes to the Access to Work Scheme have applied to employees of (a) central Government departments and agencies, (b) large private sector employers and (c) other employers; and if he will make a statement. (81941)

Access to Work funding will be removed from employees working in central government departments from October 2006. Our intention is that disabled staff should continue to receive the support they need as now, including obtaining advice from specialist staff in Jobcentre Plus. However, instead of their support being paid for by the Access to Work programme, it will be funded out of departmental running costs. Officials from the Office of Disability Issues will be working with those in other Government Departments to help them implement this requirement.

No changes have been made to Access to Work which affect people working for large private sector employers or other employers.