27/09/2011

Though there is by no means a guarantee that your question will be one chosen to be answered – its still a chance nonetheless to raise your issues. Below, as ‘food for thought’ are the questions Inclusion London have submitted:

Questions to the Mayor

• Why isn’t the Mayor supporting disabled people’s right to assess to the activities, opportunities and employment that this Capital City offers by reinstating the target of a least 29% of step free stations by 2017/2018?
• Disabled people are becoming trapped in their own homes, unable to assess all the facilities and opportunities that London offers, due to cuts in Computer Cab funding. What is the Mayor going to do to address this problem?
• The principle of ‘nothing about us without us’ is key to the empowerment of Deaf and disabled people. It is also key to developing and delivering effective services. In what ways is the Mayor ensuring that Deaf and disabled people, and their organisations, are at the heart of decisions that affect us? Questions to the Minister
• Will disabled people that are terminally ill continued to be threatened with the termination of their ESA?
• What evidence can the government provide that warrants the proposal to cut the number of recipients of DLA by 20%? 
• Does the Minister believe the government is failing to have due regard to their Equality Duties, because instead of assisting disabled people the government is are taking steps to disadvantage them by cutting DLA from 20% of recipients?
• The 1st reading of the Welfare Reform Bill took place on the 16 February 2011, yet the consultation on DLA closed two days afterwards on 18 February and the government response was not given till 4th April – does this not demonstrate that the Bill has been rushed through parliament without allowing time for the government to reflect on the consultation responses and allow for the legitimacy and lawfulness of the proposed reforms to be challenged?
• Deaf and disabled peoples organisations – run and controlled by Deaf and disabled people – play a key role in delivering choice, control and equality for many thousands of Deaf and disabled Londoners yet our organisations are facing massive and disproportionate cuts that threaten our very survival. What specific measures and support is the government providing to Deaf and disabled peoples organisations to support them to survive and thrive in these extremely difficult times?
• The principle of ‘nothing about us without us’ is key to the empowerment of Deaf and disabled people. It is also key to developing and delivering effective services. In what ways is Minister ensuring that Deaf and disabled people are at the heart of decisions that affect us?
• What evidence can the government provide that justifies the proposal to cut the mobility component from disabled people living residential homes?
• Does the Minister believe that one equality objective every four years across the many groups with ‘protected characteristics’ which includes disability, race, age, religion or belief and sexual orientation etc, is sufficient to provide an incentive to improve the equality of Deaf and disabled people?

To submit your questions visit: www.London.gov.uk/disabilitycapital