[holding answer 9 February 2009]: I met with a number of stakeholders at the largest consultation event, which was held in London on 11 December. I provided an introduction to the event and answered questions from the floor.
My officials held four consultation events, three in London and one in Edinburgh. The London events were held on 4, 11 and 15 December; the Edinburgh event was held on 9 December. Stakeholders were invited to attend and the consultation events were also publicised through the Office for Disability Issues website, the Office for Disability Issues newsletter (which reaches approximately 2,000 people), and via charities who raised the profile of the consultation through their own emails and websites. Following is a list which gives a selection of organisations which attendees came from. Notes were taken at each event and a summary will be included in the Government's response to the consultation, which is currently being prepared. A copy of the response will be placed in the Library on publication.
Informal meetings between officials and stakeholder groups have also taken place. Those stakeholder organisations with which informal discussions were held included the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Disabilities Charity Consortium (DCC). The DCC is an informal coalition of charities made up of Leonard Cheshire Disability, Mencap, Mind, RNIB, RNID, RADAR, Scope, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Sense. Minutes of these meetings were not taken due to their informal nature.
Alzheimer's Society
British Dyslexia Association
Cheshire Constabulary
Disability Voice Bromley
Equality 2025
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Independent
Leonard Cheshire Disability
London borough of Ealing
London borough of Hounslow
National AIDS Trust
National Deaf Children's Society
National Housing Federation
Public and Commercial Services Union
RADAR
Spinal Injuries Association
Techmobility
Trade Union Disability Alliance
UNISON
Unite The Union
IDS Employment Law Brief
Discrimination Law Association
Russell Jones and Walker
Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre
Addleshaw Goddard
Coventry Law Centre
The Law Society
Disability Law Service
Skill
One Essex Court Chambers
Birmingham Law Centre
London Probation
KPMG UK LLP
Goldsmiths, University of London
Future Inclusion
National Landlords Association
Employers' Forum on Disability
Disability Forward Limited
CBI