To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his oral evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on 18 November 2008, HC397, Q65-71, what advice he received on the concurrence of the devolved administrations with the Government's proposed reservation to the UK's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the proposed reservation on education. (271494)

The devolved Administrations have been fully consulted throughout our work towards ratification of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. They advised that they were content. This process has included consultation with the Northern Ireland Executive on the proposed reservation in respect of education.