Meet the ministers shaping policy for disabled children

4 mins read

Wednesday 29 July 2026

The new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed a new ministerial team. Here’s who we’ll be working with and what we’ll be asking them to prioritise.

The government has not yet confirmed the detailed responsibilities of all Ministers of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries (Junior Ministers). Those portfolios will determine who leads on key issues including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), disabled children’s social care, disability benefits and Child Trust Funds.

Some familiar faces do, however, appear likely to continue in areas that matter to families.

Department for Education

The Department for Education (DfE) will continue to lead work on (SEND), school inclusion and children’s social care.

Minister of State Georgia Gould is widely expected to continue leading the government’s work to improve the SEND system. This would provide valuable continuity as the government takes forward the proposals set out in its SEND White Paper.

Josh MacAlister MP has also been reappointed to the department. We expect him to continue leading work on children’s social care.

Continuity has its advantages. Ministers who have already engaged with stakeholders have a head start in understanding the challenges facing disabled children and their families.

However, there is also much more to do.

Contact has consistently called for disabled children’s social care to receive greater attention. While progress has been made in other areas of children’s social care, disabled children have too often been overlooked.

That is why we are encouraging supporters to write to their MPs. We want you to urge the government to implement the Law Commission’s recommendations for a fairer and simpler legal framework for disabled children’s social care.

Department of Health and Social Care

The Department of Health and Social Care has a vital role to play in improving support for disabled children and young people, particularly those with complex health needs.

As ministerial portfolios are confirmed, we’ll be looking to build relationships with the new ministerial team and continue pressing for:

  • Better access to children’s continuing care.
  • Shorter waits for therapies and community health services.
  • Stronger partnership working between health, education and social care.
  • We also want disabled children’s needs to be fully reflected in future NHS policy not just an add on.

Department for Work and Pensions

Sir Stephen Timms is expected to continue as Minister for Social Security and Disability.

That continuity is particularly important. The government is considering the future of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer’s Allowance and the Universal Credit health element.

We’ll continue working constructively with ministers to ensure disabled children, young people and parent carers receive the financial support they need.

Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice has seen a change in leadership. We are grateful for outgoing Baroness Levitt’s leadership in bringing together ministers, officials, financial institutions, charities and parent carers to explore solutions to the Child Trust Fund issue.

Sarah Sackman KC MP remains a Justice Minister. She has already engaged with Contact and parent campaigner Andrew Turner on our Child Trust Fund campaign. We have already written to Ms Sackman to emphasise the importance of maintaining the campaign’s momentum. We hope the new ministerial team will build on progress so families can finally see the changes they have been campaigning for.

What happens next?

Over the coming weeks, Contact will continue building relationships with ministers across government as portfolios are confirmed. As the new government settles in, we’ll be watching closely for:

  • Confirmation of junior minister portfolios.
  • Early engagement with disabled children, young people and family organisations.
  • The government’s response to the Law Commission’s recommendations on disabled children’s social care.
  • Progress on Child Trust Fund and Junior ISA access.
  • How the Government takes forward the proposals in the SEND White Paper.
  • The Government’s response to the disability benefits and carers’ benefits reviews.

A change of ministers always brings fresh opportunities, but lasting change depends on sustained commitment.

Over the coming months, we’ll continue working constructively with ministers, officials, parliamentarians and partners. We’ll also continue creating opportunities for families to share their experiences directly with government, the media and in Parliament. It’s vital that disabled children, young people and parent carers are at the heart of decisions that affect their lives.

Featured image photo credit: www.number10.gov.uk