§ 82. Major COPEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there 2139 is a large number of men being discharged from hospital with a 30 to 40 per cent. disability pension and certified as fit for light work who are unable to find employment; and, if so, will he state what steps, if any, are being taken, or are proposed to be taken, in such cases?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am aware that in a number of cases the physical disabilities of disabled men make it extremely difficult to place them in suitable employment. The National Scheme, however, depends on employers being prepared to make sacrifices in the interests of disabled men by employing men whom they might not under ordinary circumstances think physically suitable, and I hope that with the extension of the King's Roll many of these disabled men may be absorbed into industry. I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend of our schemes for training disabled men under which, up to the present, we have trained 23,640; we have in training 24,048; and on our waiting list 22,445. I would add that in the training of these men we always keep in view their prospects of employment when training is completed.
§ Major COPEAre all Government Departments on the King's Roll?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes; the Treasury on behalf of all Government Departments.