Discussion paper to Satellite Groups
ENGAGING DISABLED PEOPLE IN SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE POLICYMAKING
Sally Witcher, September 2005
1. Introduction and background
Part of the remit for the Disability Working Group (DWG) is "to develop proposals on longer term mechanisms for engagement with the disability sector". However, since the DWG was set up, a proposal to establish a UK National Forum for Organisations of Disabled People has come from the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report on 'Improving the Lifechances of Disabled People'. This is to be a body through which disabled people can participate at an early stage in the design of policies and services.
This proposal comes from the Westminster Government and is concerned with how disabled people across the UK contribute to Westminster Government policy. A series of consultation events has taken place so that the Department for Work and Pensions can get views of disabled people about this (there is also a leaflet that people can complete - see http://www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/DisabledPeopleArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10021425&chk=/V6ESC ). They are also setting up an Advisory Group to 'offer strategic, confidential advice to Ministers and officials across government on the creation, composition, role, remit and reporting mechanisms of the new Forum (recruitment to the Advisory Group is currently underway - see press adverts w/c 5 September). The Advisory Group is expected to be in place for 6 months.
This means we don't yet know what form the UK National Forum will take or how it will operate. We seem unlikely to know much before next Summer (at a rough guess). However, there may be implications to consider regarding mechanisms to enable disabled people in Scotland to contribute to Scottish Executive (SE) policy.
2. A way forward
At the core group meeting on 15 September, it was agreed that rather than wait to see what comes out of the Westminster Advisory Group process, we should get on with identifying what sort of mechanisms are needed to feed into the SE. When more becomes clear about the UK National Forum, it will be possible to see how/ if these mechanisms might connect with it.
The core group meeting on 9 November will need to agree:
1. What should the process be for developing a mechanism for disabled people/ organisations to contribute to SE policymaking? For example, should the DWG draft up a proposal/ options for mechanisms, and/ or outline a process to develop such mechanisms? What realistically can be achieved in the life-span of the DWG? Should there be discussion with disability organisations more widely? How? When?
2. What issues need to be addressed? For example, these might include terms of reference (title, membership, structure, accountability, etc), remit, values or principles, how to take account of the diversity of disabled people, etc.
3. What should happen next?
Satellite groups are asked to give some thought to these, and feed in views to the core group meeting on 9 November. PLEASE NOTE - you are not being asked at this stage to address issues, e.g. to say what the terms of reference should be, but to identify what the process should be, and what issues will need to be considered, in developing a mechanism.