Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has been criticised for referring to people without a disability as “normal”.

The Conservative cabinet minister made the remarks in the House of Commons as he defended the government’s record on getting more people with a disability back into work.

“I think the figure is now over 220,000, which I believe is the highest figure since records began, in proportionate terms, but the most important point is that we are looking to get that up to the level of normal, non-disabled people who are back in work. Those with disabilities have every right and every reason to expect exactly the same support into work that everybody else gets,” he said.

He was criticised by Eilidh Whiteford, the SNP social justice spokeswoman, who heard the comments in the chamber and said they provided a “shocking insight” into Duncan Smith’s mentality.

Unite, the trade union, said “shame on IDS and his shocking language” about disabled people, while the PCS union said the remarks were “disgraceful”.

Labour MP Kate Green said: “Iain Duncan Smith’s remarks about disabled people in parliament are offensive, hurtful and ignorant. It’s completely unacceptable for a government minister to single out disabled people as not ‘normal’. The work and pensions secretary should issue an immediate apology for calling non-disabled people ‘normal’.”