Transparency data

Meeting held on 9 September 2024: summary and actions

Published 11 October 2024

Attendees

• Minister for Social Security and Disability (MfSSD)
• Will Hunt (MfSSD PO)
• Samantha Lassen (Disability Unit, Cabinet Office)
• Kate Bennett (DU, CO)
• Susan Eyres (DWP)

RSN chairs:

• Justin Donne (East Midlands)
• Louise Mckiernan (West Midlands)
• Marc Goblot (Greater London)
• Sam Everard (South West)
• Chloe Plummer (South East)
• Karen Hoe OBE (Yorkshire and the Humber)
• Joanne Wilkes-Waterworth (North East)
• Ali Gunn (North West)
• Anne Wafula-Strike MBE (East of England)

Discussion points

Introduction and updates from MfSSD

MfSSD is delighted to be appointed to the important role of Minister for Social Security and Disability, and to connect with disabled people across England via the RSN chairs. He emphasised that the priority is to make sure that the voices and interests of disabled people are at the heart of what this government does. He wants to turn this aspiration into reality and welcomes the help of RSN chairs. He is also determined to make a modern social security system that is actually what people need.

MfSSD welcomed the newly appointed RSN chairs, Ali (North West) and Karen (Yorkshire and the Humber), and confirmed that he will meet with RSN chairs quarterly and looks forward to engagement with this group, to get valuable input from England’s regions.

RSN chairs’ regional overviews

MfSSD asked the chairs to share the priority areas their members feed back on. Chairs gave a summary of the make-up of their regional networks; the various channels they use to engage with members; and key regional priorities. 

The most common themes raised across the RSN regions were:

• cost of living
• benefit potential reform (including PIP)
• winter fuel payment cuts
• social care
• SEND
• transport issues
• employment support (including Access to Work)
• Housing

Forward plan

For future MfSSD-RSN chair meetings, the agenda will be based upon a specific theme, with additional issues raised on an ad-hoc basis. This thematic approach will be set out in a forward plan. Chairs can then focus their regional meetings on the upcoming theme, and can also discuss in the monthly DU-RSN chair meeting, ahead of focussing on it at the following MfSSD-RSN chair meeting. This essentially creates a direct feedback loop between MfSSD, DU, RSN chairs and RSN members. If the theme is not led by MfSSD’s department (DWP), then MfSSD will also invite relevant ministers to the meeting.

MfSSD asked the chairs to share with him the themes that they would want to see in the forward plan, based on their individual understandings of the issues most pressing for disabled people across England’s regions. Chairs discussed key themes. 

MfSSD appreciates there are more, but confirmed that the 7 main topics mentioned by chairs were: 

• employment support
• benefit system/cost of living
• social care (and health)
• transport accessibility
• housing
• assistive technology
• special educational needs

There was some discussion amongst chairs as to whether social care could be put with health, or whether social care could be put with education.

MfSSD suggested that the next meeting in December could focus on employment support, as there is a government commitment to transform employment support to help people into work. More will be said about it in due course. RSN chairs asked whether this subject could also tie in anything on cost of living such as winter fuel payments, to cover other ways of support (not just benefits).

MfSSD suggested that the meeting in March could then focus on the benefit system/cost of living. There are then a further 5 topics that could be focussed on at future meetings:

• transport
• social care (and health)
• housing
• assistive technology
• special education needs

Following the meeting DU and MfSSD suggest that the theme for the June meeting should be agreed at the December meeting with RSN chairs’ input.

AOB / MfSSD closing summary points

Marc Goblot asked whether there will be any changes to the previous work programme. MfSSD confirmed that there are no current changes to the RSN programme being planned at this stage.

MfSSD thanked chairs and said that they are welcome to email him at any time with any thoughts. Invites for the next 3 quarterly meetings have been sent to chairs by MfSSD Private Office.

Action points

1. DU and MfSSD PO to set out a forward plan for the next MfSSD-RSN chair meetings (December and March), so chairs can plan their regional meetings around these themes.

2. MfSSD and RSN chairs to agree the theme for the June meeting at the December meeting.