News

The government has been slammed for delaying and then marginalising a key report on employment opportunities for people with learning difficulties.

The Working Group on Learning Disabilities and Employment report, published last week was completed 18 months ago, group members have said.

The report was only published last week on the Valuing People Support Team website, with no announcement from the departments of health or work and pensions, which sponsored the group.

David Congdon, head of policy and campaigns at Mencap and a group member, said: “I’m very concerned that the recommendations will be ignored.”

Fellow group member Huw Davies, chair of the British Association for Supported Employment, said the government had shelved the report because the recommendations were “a bit challenging”.

It found that workers with learning difficulties were paid less than the minimum wage