Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People
Second Advisory Group meeting
The second meeting of the Project Advisory Group took place on Tuesday 4th
May, and was attended by:
Maria Eagle - Chair (Minister, DWP)
Ian Berry , on behalf of Stephen Ladyman (PUSS, DH)
Phil Snell , on behalf of Baroness Cathy Ashton (Minister, DfES / DWP)
Jane Campbell (Chair, SCIE)
Christine Lenehan (Director, Council for Disabled Children)
Bert Massie (Chair, DRC)
Mark Thompson (Director-General-Designate, BBC)
Sally Witcher (Chair, DEAC)
Stephen Aldridge (SU)
Bruce Calderwood (DWP)
Gareth Davies (No 10)
Ann Frye (DfT)
Nicholas Holgate (HMT)
Ruth Stanier , on behalf of Claire Tyler (SEU)
The Group discussed the Strategy Unit's findings from Phase Two of its
analysis, in particular its definition of the problem, vision for the
future and analysis of key areas.
Points raised in discussion included the following:
>> The analysis was welcomed by the Group. The Group felt that
it brought together significant amounts of information about the barriers
facing disabled people.
>> The Group was keen to move towards addressing practical
solutions to the issues outlined in the analysis. These solutions should
include how things can be improved on the ground - through policy - and in
the policymaking process. It will be important for the Strategy Unit to
address implementation, which is often where policymaking falls down.
>> There was general support for the idea of a
'contract' between Government and disabled people, provided that
its status was clear (e.g. a coherent framework for policy) and that it had
a meaningful impact on the lives of disabled people. The 'contract'
would be useful if it catalysed Government to work better together on
disability issues.
>> The Group suggested that the project needs to be holistic in
dealing with a range of issues, including independent living, and not just
those relating to employment.
>> It will be important for the Strategy Unit to tie-in
its work with other Government activity in this area, for example the
various National Service Frameworks being developed by DH and DfES
>> The Strategy Unit should prioritise its focus for the next
phase of the project; this should take account of the heterogeneity of both
disabled people and the barriers that disabled people face.
>> The project should also consider where the project would add
most value overall; this will involve a balance between long term,
structural change and 'quick wins' in the shorter term.
>> The Strategy Unit should consider the role, and limits, of
cost-benefit analysis (CBA) in its work e.g. the CBA of exclusion from an
independent life. The potential upside of CBA is that it can provide new
evidence on the most effective policy approach to a given problem. The
downside is that it can marginalise benefits (and costs) that are less
easily quantified, for example self-esteem.
The Group will meet next on Thursday 8th July 2004.
