Under the disability equality duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, DCMS and our public sector bodies listed in the associated Regulations are required to publish and implement disability equality schemes. These are plans setting out how we will carry out the disability equality duty, monitor and report on progress. In particular this includes our arrangements for gathering information on the effect of our policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of disabled employees, including those with mental health conditions, and making use of that information.
The public sector bodies sponsored by my Department that are subject to these requirements are responsible for publishing and implementing their own disability equality schemes.
In addition, and in line with the disability equality duty, a report is published every three years to show: progress towards disability equality in my policy sector; and proposals for co-ordination of future work by relevant public bodies within my policy sector. These reports will show what impact, if any, policies have had on recruitment and retention of disabled people including those with a mental health condition, and set out proposals to address any gaps identified when establishing the progress made across the policy sector. The first report will be published by December 2008.
Full information about both the equality scheme and the annual report on progress can be found on the DCMS website.
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/3596.aspx
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/5082.aspx