‘A REGRESSIVE PERIOD...’

FIGURES relating specifically to Wales in the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report show that living conditions for disabled people fall far short of equality.

In 2014/15, only 575 (1.3%) of all apprenticeships in Wales were started by disabled learners;

The proportion of disabled adults in employment in Wales remained lower (42.6%) compared with non-disabled people (78.1%) in 2015/16, and the gap between these groups had widened since 2010/11;

Between 2010-11 and 2015-16, the median hourly earnings for disabled employees in Wales decreased by 9.2%, while there was no change for non-disabled people;

In Wales, in 2014/15, the educational attainment of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) was nearly three times lower than for non-disabled children;

The proportion of disabled 25-64 year olds in Wales with no qualifications was higher in 2015/16 (21.3%) compared with that of non-disabled people (7.6%);

In 2012/13 poverty rates were higher for disabled adults compared with non-disabled adults across Britain, with rates in Wales being the highest (Wales 27.5% compared with 21.3%, England 24.0% compared with 17.9%, Scotland 21.4% compared with 17.3%.);

In Wales in 2014/15, 7.2% of public appointments and reappointments made by Ministers in Wales were of people who had a disability;

Across the UK, 18.4% of disabled people aged 16-64 were considered to be in food poverty in 2014 compared with just 7.5% of non-disabled people;

Disability hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales increased by 44% in 2015/16 on the previous year, possibly reflecting improved reporting and recording practices;

In 2014, disabled adults in Wales were more likely to report poor mental health and wellbeing (44.7%) than non-disabled adults (16.5%);

Changes to legal aid in England and Wales have negatively affected disabled people’s access to justice. Across Great Britain, there was a 54% drop in employment tribunal claims on grounds of disability discrimination between 2012/13 and 2015/16;

A study by the Public Policy Institute for Wales into the effects of the welfare reforms in Wales found that a lack of smaller dwellings meant that it was difficult for tenants to downsize in response to the “bedroom tax”. This is particularly relevant to disabled tenants, as was outlined in a 2014 report, which showed that half of disabled tenants questioned were in arrears following the removal of the “spare room subsidy”.

Rhian Davies, chief executive of Disability Wales, said: “Sadly the conclusions of this report confirm very much the experiences of disabled people in Wales. The anti-austerity agenda pursued by the UK Government has had a negative effect on disabled people, with cuts to benefits and greater pressure on employment prospects.

“There has been progress in some areas, and the Welsh Government has sought to mitigate the impact of spending cuts on disabled people. But in the main this has been a regressive period rather than a progressive one.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “We will consider the findings of the report and respond in due course. Our framework on independent living recognises the barriers that disabled people experience in their lives and sets out a strategic approach to addressing them.

“These are long-term issues which will not be solved overnight and we are working with disabled people and their organisations to review our framework with the aim of publishing a refreshed action plan later this year.”