Companies will be forced to reveal how many disabled staff they employ under new plans

Companies will be forced to reveal how many disabled staff they employ, under government plans to narrow the disability employment gap.

The Government has opened a consultation into mandatory disability reporting for large employers – which would mirror a system already in place that monitors the gender pay gap.

It comes as part of the Disability Strategy, Boris Johnson's £1.6 billion cross-government reform of policy for disabled people.

The Cabinet Office will begin its consultation on disability reporting this year, and if implemented, the policy could mean all companies with more than 250 employees must report their disability statistics to the Government.

Companies are already encouraged to report the proportion of disabled people they employ, but ministers are concerned the number of employers that take part in the scheme voluntarily is not high enough.

The latest figures show disabled people have an employment rate 28.8 percentage points lower than that of people who are not disabled.

Justin Tomlinson, the disability minister, said: “We’ve tested the water with voluntary reporting and it's not giving us enough data and evidence.

“So we want to go further on this. We understand this is a complex area and we’ll need to tread carefully how we do this, but the principle of it we think is an important part of that menu of driving up employment opportunities.”

The strategy also includes plans to make playgrounds more accessible for disabled children, and a commitment from the Ministry of Defence and security services to make their workforces more representative.

MI6 has set an interim workforce disability target of nine per cent by 2025.

The Government will also pass new legislation to allow sign language interpreters into jury rooms, which is currently banned and prevents deaf people from completing jury service, while new access facilities will help disabled people vote.

Mr Johnson said: “Just as our talented Paralympians are set to take the stage in Tokyo next month, at home we are harnessing that same ambition and spirit, to build a better and fairer life for all disabled people living in the UK.

“Our new National Disability Strategy is a clear plan – from giving disabled people the best start in school to unlocking equal job opportunities, this strategy sets us on a path to improve their everyday lives.”

The Department for Work and Pensions will also trial a new “access to work” passport scheme, which will allow disabled people to more easily inform employers of their access needs. The pilot scheme will focus on young people leaving education and veterans entering employment from the armed forces.

New rules will also raise the accessibility requirements for new homes, while existing properties will be upgraded with a £573 million fund. Ministers want homes to have their doors widened and to install ramps, stair lifts and downstairs bathrooms.

Landlords could also be required to make reasonable adjustments to leasehold homes, under a new consultation run by the Cabinet Office.

Therese Coffey, the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, said: “This national strategy will help level up opportunity and improve the everyday experience of disabled people, whether that is at home; travelling on public transport; using the local high street or going online; enjoying culture, the arts or the great outdoors; and exercising civic roles like jury service and voting.”