To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of its duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty. (240985)

DEFRA produced a new Disability Equality Scheme at the end of 2007. This was developed to provide a more focused and effective scheme than the joint equality scheme which it succeeded. This new scheme was developed with the involvement of disabled people and was approved by the Equalities and Human Rights commission. It is published on the DEFRA website and can be found on:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/diversity/des/index.htm

We have made real and tangible progress for disabled staff over the past year. This progress, against the objectives set out in the Scheme’s action plan, will be reported in our Annual Progress Report on 31 December 2008.