Disability plan accused of lacking measurable targets

Plans to improve the lives of disabled people have been criticised for lacking measurable targets.

The Disabled People's Right Plan aims to give people more rights across a range of areas in Wales.

But critics have said much of the detail could fall off the agenda, especially after a new government is elected next year.

The Welsh government said short-term recommendations from a disability rights taskforce had been "turned into actions" while longer-term aims will help guide future governments towards its "10-year vision".

Ministers have been working on the taskforce for the past four years, which has included disabled people and groups which represent them.

It produced more the 300 recommendations for reform in areas such as social care, employment, housing and travel, in a plan that stretches over the next 10 years.

But some who took part have said the recommendations have not been incorporated in the document sent out for consultation.

Rhian Davies, chief executive of Disability Wales, said it was "very frustrating".

"The taskforce was set up by the [then First Minister] Mark Drakeford in November 2021, but because of the complexity and number of barriers that disabled people face in society, crossing every policy area, it is a complex task engaging so many people," she said.

"We would have wanted to see the plan out much sooner so there was a very real chance of progress on some of the recommendations and the actions, so that the next government would have been further ahead on delivery."

Ms Davies added: "I think disabled people deserve that."

Prof Debbie Foster co-chaired the taskforce and said she was concerned the plan could end up gathering dust if politicians from all parties do not commit to it.

"I'm really very worried," she said.

"I think that the fact that we've been put in this position, that it's come out so late in this political administration, is really a bit depressing."

She added that what was created was "very robust and innovative".

"It's got the voices of disabled people in it, and we have had a really good civil service to support the whole mechanism of trying to co-produce a task force.

"I think also, given the wider UK picture with benefit cuts, we need the Welsh government to be coming out, whichever political party is in charge, and assuring disabled people in Wales, that they have a different plan than the current UK government."

The issue was also brought up with the minister responsible by opposition members in the Senedd this week.

The chair of the Senedd's all party group on disability, Mark Isherwood MS, asked on behalf of disabled groups how the Welsh government responded to its statement which said many of the long-term objectives lacked firm commitments.

He also asked how it intended to ensure continuity and accountability for the longer-term objectives beyond the current administration.

The Welsh Conservative politician added there had also been criticism from within the sector that the plan does not have concrete targets, which he said made it impossible to hold the Welsh government to account on progress.

Jane Hutt, the cabinet secretary responsible for the plan, responded: "I think what's important is that this is a comprehensive 10-year plan, which lays out our long-term ambitions and the actions we will take now."

She added the plan was also a progress report which set out some of the achievements made so far and the Welsh government's ongoing work to achieve positive outcomes for disabled people.

She said: "It is future Senedd government's who will set out the medium to long-term actions that they will take to achieve the ambition and outcomes for disabled people set out in this 10-year plan, but we've started to take forward some of the short-term actions now.

"We don't have to wait until the next Senedd term to take action to improve outcomes for disabled people."

The Welsh government said it was "committed to creating an inclusive, accessible Wales where disabled people can live free from barriers and discrimination".

It added short-term recommendations from the Disability Rights Taskforce had been "turned into actions" while longer-term aims will help guide future governments towards its "10-year vision".

"We call on all disabled people and allies to please feed into the plan. This is a plan for now and into the future."