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Equality

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons the Disability Discrimination (General Qualifications Bodies) (Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable Steps and Physical Features) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 have not been the subject of a disability equality impact assessment. (217495)

We have consulted with the interested disability organisations about laying the draft regulations (dated 19 June 2008) without carrying out an equality impact assessment. A consortium covering Scope, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, Skill, the British Association of the Teachers of the Deaf, the British Dyslexia Association and the National Deaf Children’s Society has told us it is reluctantly prepared to accept this approach. This is in order to avoid delays which could disadvantage disabled candidates or those considering whether or not to undertake a course.

When I took the DDA General Qualifications regulations through the House last summer I made it clear that the practice of exemptions from parts of an assessment, and therefore the resulting enhancements, will continue to be lawful after September 2007. This absolutely remains the Government position.