The UK Government green paper Work, Health and Disability: Improving Lives  set out the government’s proposals on ways to halve the disability employment gap experienced by disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. The consultation closed on 17 Feb 2017.

Interested groups, including ME support groups, found a number of problems with the proposals:

Disability Wales: 7 Blatantly Obvious Things the Government Could Do to Support Disabled People into Employment

Disability Wales: The Green Paper Doesn’t Pay Enough Attention to the Barriers that Disabled People Face

Action for ME: Highlighting the need for greater understanding of M.E.

Highlights: need for better training in ME for both employers and Jobcentre Plus staff; value of trained employment advisors; need for clear recognition that some people are not able to work;

ME Association: South East London ME Support Group respond to ‘Improving Lives: The Health, Work and Disability Green Paper’ 

Highlights: ME/CFS and the rehabilitation debate; need for work coaches trained in ME; assessments for benefits

Disability Rights UK: DRUK makes 25 recommendations for halving the disability employment gap consultation

Disability news service: Spartacus exposes work and health green paper ‘smokescreen’

Disability news service: Green paper was missed opportunity to dump biopsychosocial model, says DPO

Disability news service: No chance of halving employment gap without tackling independent living, says DPO