I am delighted to announce that later today the UK will ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York. In addition, we aim to start the parliamentary process for ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention shortly.

There are an estimated 650 million disabled people in the world, including over 10 million in the UK. The UN Convention is a powerful and explicit statement that they have—and must be able to enjoy on an equal basis—the same human rights as others. The Convention is therefore a very significant landmark, both for disabled people and for Government and society as whole.

Ratification of the Convention is further demonstration of the Government’s commitment to equality of human rights for disabled people, and of our determination to achieve equality by 2025.