The National Disability Strategy: Content, reaction and progress
What is the National Disability Strategy (NDS), how was it received, what were the legal issues and what progress has been made?

This note looks at the background to the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 which allowed political parties to draw up all-women shortlists of candidates for elections; and its extension. It gives details of Labour candidates selected through all-women shortlists and methods of positive action used by the main political parties to increase the number of women MPs.
All-women shortlists (1 MB , PDF)
Baroness Gale, House of Lords, 30 October 2008
Since Baroness Gale made those comments two general elections and a number of by-elections have intervened: 450 women have been elected to the House of Commons since 1918.
This Note provides some information on the use of all-women shortlists by the Labour Party and reviews approaches adopted by other political parties to increase the number of women candidates and elected representatives.
This note looks at the background to the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 which allowed political parties to draw up all-women shortlists of candidates for elections. The Act included a “sunset clause” – the Act would have expired at the end of 2015, unless extended.
The Equality Act 2010 extended the period in which all-women shortlists may be used until 2030.
All-women shortlists (1 MB , PDF)
What is the National Disability Strategy (NDS), how was it received, what were the legal issues and what progress has been made?
The Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill would allow for the alignment of rules on absent voting arrangements between reserved and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales.
Election rules state elections must be held using a set timetable. This briefing explains the timetable for by-elections to the UK Parliament.