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Lynne Jones MP - HIV & Mental Health - The Equality Bill

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Tue, 12/05/2009 - 5:08pm
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 From theyworkforyou.com Lynne Jones MP has raised again the issues of HIV and Mental Health.

I disagree with the answer from the Leader of the House.  Employers should interview and offer jobs to candidates on ability to undertake a particular form of employment. If the person meets that criteria than "reasonable adjustments" should be part of the post job offer process.  Employers should not have to factor in to the employment selection process and additional costs for "reasonable adjustments" as at this point it would clearly discriminate against a disabled candidate. I wonder sometimes if our MP's are aware of the realities. Employers would, in the main, only have an interest in "reasonable adjustments" from a cost point of view not any form of care. For if it were the case they wanted the right person for the job.  Merit alone should be sufficient. I shall right to her.

Meanwhile thanks to Lynne Jones for keeping HIV on the agenda here.


Photo of Lynne JonesLynne Jones

 (Birmingham, Selly Oak, Labour) 

Link to this | Hansard source

One area where there is a great deal of hidden discrimination is in the employment recruitment process. We know that society discriminates against people with particular disabilities or long-term conditions such as mental illness or people with HIV. There is still provision for employers to ask in pre-employment questionnaires about a person's medical condition, and that allows for discrimination. The Disability Rights Commission and the Work and Pensions Committee have recommended that such provision should be outlawed. Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider that?

There is also discrimination in the heart of this Parliament, against people with mental illness. Under section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983, any Member of Parliament who is detained in a mental health hospital for more than six months has to resign their seat. That sends a stigmatising message to all people with a mental illness, and I should like provision to be made in the Bill to withdraw that requirement.


Harriet Harman

 (Lord Privy Seal, House of Commons; Camberwell & Peckham, Labour) 

Link to this | Hansard source

Employers cannot ask questions such as my hon. Friend describes to discriminate against a person, but they sometimes ask questions with a view to making a reasonable adjustment, so that they are aware of the situation before employing somebody. Her point about people with mental health problems is important, and it might well need to be addressed in the Constitutional Renewal Bill.

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