PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PUBLICATION OF AN EASY-READ VERSION OF THE WELFARE REFORM GREEN PAPER (8 February 2006)

That this House notes that around 1.5 million people in the UK have learning disabilities; further notes that proposals contained in the Green Paper `A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering People to Work', published by the Department for Work and Pensions on 24th January 2006, will have a direct impact on many of those people; further notes that an easy-read version of the paper has not yet been published and that according to a parliamentary answer dated 2nd February 2006 the Department is still not able to provide a date on which it will be published in this form; believes that it is vital that these proposals are published in formats that are accessible to all; expresses serious concern that those dependent on an easy-read version will not have an equal opportunity to respond to the consultation; and calls on the Government to ensure that an easy-read version of the paper is published as soon as possible and that the deadline for responses to the consultation is extended to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to make their views known.

Sponsored by:
Danny Alexander (Liberal Democrat)