The Scottish Conservatives are calling for the appointment of a Disability Commissioner for Scotland to better protect and promote the rights of disabled people.
Lothians MSP Jeremy Balfour will today launch the consultation period on his Member’s Bill to establish a ‘much-needed’ independent commissioner – and is urging Scots to share their views.
Jeremy Balfour said that the pandemic had highlighted the inequalities faced by disabled people and underlined the need for additional safeguards.
The proposed Disability Commissioner for Scotland would play a similar role to the Children and Young People Commissioner, a post established in Scotland in 2004. The Commissioner would be viewed as the first port of call for all people with a disability – whether physical, learning or hidden – who are facing difficulties, and would work to promote the rights of disabled people across Scotland.
The principles of the Bill have already gained support from disability groups and charities – but Jeremy Balfour is now seeking responses from anyone interested in or affected by the proposals, to ensure the proposed legislation fully reflects the views of the Scottish public.
The consultation period will run for 12 weeks until August 3rd 2022.
Scottish Conservative Social Security and Disabilities spokesman Jeremy Balfour MSP : “The Covid pandemic has highlighted the extent of the inequalities and discrimination that disabled people in Scotland still face today.
“However, from public facilities to government employment schemes, the needs of disabled people had been neglected and overlooked by the SNP for years even before the pandemic.
“We must urgently do more to support disabled people in our society.
“An independent Disability Commissioner would help safeguard and promote the rights of disabled people in Scotland and give people with any kind of disability someone to turn to if they face difficulties or discrimination.
“I urge Scots to respond to the consultation so that we can ensure our proposals fully reflect the views of the Scottish public – and I hope that this much-needed Bill will receive cross-party support when it eventually comes before parliament.”
Director of Camphill Scotland Emma Walker said: “It’s now more than two years since Covid began, yet the rights of disabled people are still being ignored. We live in a discrimination-by-design society. Disabled children are being denied access to education, essential respite services are closing without explanation and archaic workplace practices are leading to limited work opportunities for disabled young people and adults.
“There are now more barriers to equal citizenship for disabled people than ever before. We urgently need to prioritise the voices and experiences of disabled people, their families and unpaid carers. That’s why we welcome the consultation for the Disability Commissioner Bill, and I urge everyone to ensure that their voice is heard.”
Director of MS Society Scotland Morna Simpkins said: “A Disability Commissioner has the potential to make a real difference to the lives of people with MS in Scotland. We are grateful to Jeremy Balfour MSP for bringing forward this proposal and look forward to responding to it.
“We urge people with MS and the wider disability community to engage with the consultation and make sure their views are heard.”
Notes:
Disabled people were disproportionately impacted by the Covid pandemic. According to The Lancet, “people with disabilities have been differentially affected by COVID-19 because of three factors: the increased risk of poor outcomes from the disease itself, reduced access to routine health care and rehabilitation, and the adverse social impacts of efforts to mitigate the pandemic,” (The Lancet, Triple jeopardy: disabled people and the COVID-19 pandemic, 16 March 2021, link).
The proposed Disability Commissioner would follow a similar model to that of the Children and Young People Commissioner that was established in Scotland in 2004. Like the Children’s Commissioner, the Disability Commissioner would encompass wide-ranging functions, with the specific intention that they would be viewed as the first and main port of call for people with a disability who are facing issues that might cut across a number of policy areas and may also require a number of associated actions. The proposed Disability Commissioner would encompass all disabilities; physical, mental, hidden and fluctuating conditions, as per the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010 Section 6, to ensure no-one is left behind or excluded from seeking assistance and support (cypcs.org.uk, Accessed 11 May 2022, link; Equality Act 2010 – Section 6, Accessed 11 May 2022, link).
