The Office for Disability Issues, a new cross-government office, was established on 1 December 2005. Its remit was to ensure that government departments worked together, and in partnership with disabled people, to tackle the inequalities faced by disabled people.
Source: Press release 1 December 2005, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7712 2171)
Links: DWP press release | Hansard
Date: 2005-Dec
The disability rights watchdog began consultation on the desirability or otherwise of a change to the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act definition of disability, broadening it so that the law provided protection against discrimination on the grounds of impairment, regardless of the level or type of impairment.
Source: Definition of Disability: Consultation document, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2005-Nov
The government began consultation on guidance on matters to be taken into account in determining questions relating to the definition of disability.
Source: Guidance on Matters to be Taken into Account in Determining Questions Relating to the Definition of Disability, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8176)
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2005-Sep
A report provided advice on research design options for addressing the government s likely information and evidence needs in the area of disability, and set out the key options for any future survey work.
Source: Susan Purdon, Meeting DWP s Long-Term Information Needs on Disability: A feasibility report, Research Report 267, CDS/Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf) | DWP press release
Date: 2005-Sep
The government announced that a new Office for Disability Issues would be established later in 2005. The new unit would be responsible for driving delivery across the whole of government, in conjunction with the Disability Rights Commission.
Source: Press release 16 September 2005, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7712 2171)
Links: DWP press release
Date: 2005-Sep
The Disability Rights Commission published its annual report for 2004-05.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2004-05, HC 253, Disability Rights Commission, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
The government announced a timetable for implementing the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. Landlords, private clubs, transport and qualification bodies would come under the scope of the Act from December 2005.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 21 July 2005, columns 169-172WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DWP press release
Date: 2005-Jul
The disability rights watchdog published a discussion paper on the future of disabled people?s equality. It sought views on how to ensure disabled people were safe in their communities; how they could be equipped with the skills to play an active role in society; how to ensure that they were in control of their own lives; and how to reform the welfare state so that it supported their independence rather than creating dependence.
Source: Shaping the Future of Equality, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Discussion paper (pdf) | DRC press release
Date: 2005-Jun
A paper examined what citizenship meant for disabled people, and the implications of the goal of enabling disabled people to be equal citizens.
Source: Jenny Morris, Citizenship and Disabled People, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
The Mental Capacity Act received Royal assent. The Act, covering England and Wales, provided a statutory framework for people who might not be able to make their own decisions - for example because of a learning disability, an illness such as dementia, or mental health problems. It set out who could take decisions, in which situations, and how they should go about this.
Source: Mental Capacity Act 2005, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | DCA press release | Alzheimer's Society press release | MDA press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The Disability Discrimination Bill was given a third reading, and received Royal assent. The Act introduced a new positive duty on public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people.
Source: Disability Discrimination Act 2005, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 6 April 2005, columns 1500-1510, TSO
Links: Text of Act | Summary | Hansard | DWP press release | DRC press release | DCC press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The Disability Discrimination Bill was given a second reading. The Bill removed the requirement that a mental illness had to be 'clinically well recognized'; amended the 'blue badge' parking scheme for disabled people to ensure reciprocity with other European states; extended the legislation to cover bodies awarding general qualifications, including schools; and ensured that a landlord could not unreasonably refuse consent where a disabled tenant wished to make an adaptation to rented accommodation.
Source: Disability Discrimination Bill [HL], Department for Work and Pensions, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 23 March 2005, columns 898-965, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | DWP press release (1) | DWP press release (2) | HOC Library research paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
The government published a summary of the revisions it expected to make to the draft code of practice accompanying the Mental Capacity Bill, reflecting amendments made by the House of Commons and other suggested changes.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 10 January 2005, columns 1-4WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2005-Jan
A series of articles examined issues concerned with social justice for disabled people.
Source: Social Policy and Society, Volume 4 Issue 1
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2005-Jan
A report proposed that the government should set an ambitious vision for improving the life chances of disabled people. Future strategy for disabled people should seek to realize this vision through practical measures in four key areas: by helping disabled people to achieve independent living; by improving support for families with young disabled children; by facilitating a smooth transition into adulthood; and by improving support and incentives for getting and staying in employment. Disabled people would be given personal budgets to replace existing state benefits. Family doctors who signed too many people off as disabled could face retraining or even disciplinary action. The overall strategy would be driven forward by a new Office for Disability Issues.
Source: Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People, Strategy Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1881) with Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Department for Education and Skills, and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 19 January 2005, column 42WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Hansard | SU press release | Citizens Advice press release | Scope press release | CDC press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Jan
A joint committee of MPs and peers repeated calls for the government to amend the Mental Capacity Bill to prevent the unlawful detention of people who lacked the capacity to resist. It said the Bill remained incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, because it did not include safeguards against 'compliant incapacitated' people being detained in hospital.
Source: Scrutiny: First Progress Report, Fourth Report (Session 2004-05), HL 26 and HC 224, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons), TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Jan