NEEDS OF DISABLED PEOPLE

Early day motion 474, tabled 8 January 2003 by Lord Willetts (Conservative). Signed by 64 members.

That this House, recognising the importance of disabled people in their own right, and as contributors to the economy and wider life of the country, and mindful that 2003 is to be the European Year of Disabled People, calls on the Government to make a real commitment to disabled people by tackling unfairness in the operation of the benefits system, reforming the New Deal for Disabled People, facing up to the problem of rising numbers on incapacity benefit, creating genuine 'joined up thinking' to get people who want to come into the labour force and more generally creating the conditions where all disabled people, whether or not of working age, can enjoy the quality of life to which they are entitled.

Signatures by party: Conservative 42, Liberal Democrat 10, Labour 3, Scottish National Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2, DUP 1, Independent Conservative 1.