The Scottish Government

DISABILITY WORKING GROUP

Note of meeting, 11 January 2005

Present:

David Thomson, (Chair) Scottish Executive Equality Unit

Neil Squires, Barnardos

Fiona Duncan, Capability Scotland

Bill Campbell, Inclusion Scotland

Gordon MacRae, Leonard Cheshire Scotland

Ann Brown, RNID Scotland

Kate Wallace, SAMH

Lilian Lawson, Scottish Council on Deafness

Wynn Merrils, Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Ron Skinner, Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Joyce Wilson, SENSE Scotland

Iain Montgomery, Scottish Trade Union Congress

Lionel Long, Update

Sally Witcher, Independent Consultant

Graeme Bryce, Scottish Executive Equality Unit

Charlotte McHaffie, Scottish Executive Equality Unit

Apologies:

Apologies were received from:

Jon Harris/Hannah Reeve, CoSLA

Bob Benson, Disability Rights Commission

Mike Holmes, Enable

Jack Moodie, Orkney Disability Forum

Gordon Matheson, RNIB Scotland

Brenda Walker, Scottish Human Services Trust

Welcome and Introductions

1. David welcomed the group and set out the purpose of the meeting - to agree the group's remit, the focus of satellite groups, and the method of working.

Note of the away day

2. The note of the away day was agreed with one change - under 'key areas of work' the word employability would be changed to employment.

Matters arising

3. Gordon asked whether business would be represented on the core group. The Executive confirmed that it had discussed the issue with Scottish Enterprise and that Scottish Enterprise had agreed to participate on the group itself and to find a private sector business that would also participate. Unfortunately this had not been possible in time for the 11 January meeting.

4. The Executive also explained that CoSLA wished to participate on the core group but were unable to attend on 11 January.

5. Sally informed the group that, since the Awayday, there had been some developments in the wider policy environment and stressed that it would be important to continue to be alert to developments during the life-span of the Working Group. Incapacity Benefit 'Pathways' pilots are to be expanded more widely. The Number 10 Strategy Unit report on 'improving the life chances of disabled people' had not yet been published but was expected shortly.

The way forward

Key areas of work

6. The note of the away day had identified 4 key areas of work as follows:

• employment, including piloting good practice; poverty
• public sector duty to promote disability equality; mainstreaming disability equality; corporate responsibility; engaging public authorities
• communication; consultation; access to information; education and training; citizenship; disability equality training; public attitudes
• transport (subject to discussion with MACS)

7. These were discussed in some detail and the following points were made:

• Poverty should be separated from employment.
• Issues that needed to be added were - independent living, direct payments, care services and rehabilitation. It was agreed these were linked to poverty and social inclusion issues.
• Transport would only be included following discussion with MACS about whether the group could add value to what they were doing.
• Access to information would only be included following discussion with the Scottish Accessible Information Forum about whether the group could add value to what they were doing.
• Access to the arts, sport and culture was missing and there might be scope to include this in some way further to discussion with the Scottish Arts Council, Sport Scotland and others.

8. A revised set of key areas was agreed as follows:

• Employment, including piloting good practice.
• Public sector duty to promote disability equality: mainstreaming disability equality; corporate responsibility; engaging public authorities.
• Communication; consultation; education and training; citizenship; disability equality training; pubic attitudes; [possibly also access to information].
• Social inclusion; poverty; independent living; direct payments; care services; rehabilitation.
• Transport [to be confirmed, following discussion with MACS].
• Access to the arts, sport and leisure [to be confirmed, following discussion with relevant bodies].

9. It was noted that there may well be some overlap between groups. Some issues, such as rehabilitation may span more than one (also relevant to employment). This could be reflected in the final report. The core group meetings would be the mechanisms for identifying such issues and ensuring 'cross fertilisation'.

Remit

10. The remit was agreed as follows:

To establish priorities for the Scottish Executive and partner organisations to promote equality for disabled people in Scotland; and to develop proposals on longer term mechanisms for engagement with the disability sector.

Method of working

11. The group agreed the position reached on the Awayday - a core group with smaller satellite groups focussed on the key areas.

12. Given the change in the focus of the key areas of working, core group members wished to consider how they themselves and their organisations might populate the various satellite groups. It was agreed that this exercise would be undertaken through e-mail. The Executive would issue a paper by Friday 14 January setting out the remit of the satellite groups and seeking nominations for membership.

13. It was agreed that individuals on the core group would participate themselves on at least one satellite group and that a core group member would chair satellite groups and report back to the core group.

14. It was agreed that core group member organisations could participate on up to 3 satellite groups.

15. Joyce suggested that satellite groups should look where possible to involve young people in their work.

16. The Executive would co-ordinate the establishment of the satellite groups, ensuring an appropriate spread of core group member organisations. The Executive would also ensure appropriate attendance from Scottish Executive policy officials and broker the involvement of any other organisations. All secretariat services including arranging meetings and note taking would be provided by the Executive.

Timescale

17. The aim would be as follows:

Establish satellite groups by the end of January.

First satellite group meetings during February/March (subject to

when progress can be made

setting up satellite groups)

Next core group meeting in March or April

Further satellite group meetings to be determined

Next Steps

18. The Executive would prepare the note of the meeting quickly. A separate note explaining the process for establishing the satellite groups would then be issued with a view to having the satellite groups up and running in time for a first meetings during February. Meanwhile the Executive would explore with MACS, SAIF and others whether the group could add value to what they are doing.

Action Points

1. Executive to speak to MACS, SAIF, SAC, Sport Scotland and others as appropriate to explore whether the Disability Working Group might add value to current activities
2. Executive to issue paper on establishing satellite groups and to then co-ordinate the establishment of satellite groups by the end of January, ensuring appropriate distribution of core group members organisations, SE officials and others.
3. Core group members to consider which satellite groups they wish to participate in - both as individuals and as organisations - and respond to the Executive's paper when issued.