Publications

Ecas regularly publishes key documents arising from our research and campaigning work. These documents include research, discussion and other policy papers, as well as consultation responses and written evidence. You can browse highlights from our work below, or use the document list on this menu to search for documents on a specific topic.

Equality Bill

The Work and Pensions Committee has accepted and published Ecas' submission to its New Year inquiry into the Equality Bill proposals. The submission summarises our experiences trying to hold local authorities to account in relation to the disability equality duty. The full submission is available in the 'downloads' section of this website and is summarised below.
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Welfare Reform

"The 'vision' statement that everyone is expected to contribute is a superficially attractive maxim, but it must be recognised that a significant
number of disabled people cannot reciprocate similar economic benefits to those conferred on them by society. It is therefore vital to be clearer about the meaning of contribute, to avoid stigmatising unemployed disabled people." (Ecas consultation response.)

Ecas has responded to the Department of Work and Pensions' welfare reform consultation entitled 'No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility'. This response is available for download from the document list on this site. The response raises a number of concerns about the Government's welfare reform proposals, including the definition of disability, assessing work capability, the Access to Work scheme, disability discrimination, 'work for your benefit' and the proposed sanctions.

Calman Commission

Ecas has provided a written response to the Commission on Scottish Devolution, chaired by Lord Calman. In the letter we call for consideration to be given to devolving to the Scottish Parliament further powers relating to equalities and discrimination, in order to better integrate discrimination law with other related areas of Scottish law for disabled people. The text of the letter is copied below and a copy of the letter is available in the document list on this website.

Parking Places Bill

We have sent written evidence, at Stage 1 of the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Bill 2008, to the Clerk to the Local Government and Communities Committee at the Scottish Parliament. We call for greater enforcement of disabled parking places regulation. We also suggest that enforceable parking places should be fully marked and signposted to provide clarity to all road users and to deter potential misuse. It should be explicitly stated at each site that the parking place is enforceable, rather than advisory, making it clear that those abusing the designation are breaking the law. Maximum penalties for misuse should be clearly displayed. The impact of this legislation should be clear to all in order to achieve a culture of wide compliance. (The full text of our letter is copied below and a copy of the letter is in the document list on this website).