HC Deb 16 July 1946 vol 425 cc1051-2
75. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now raise the percentage of disabled persons who must be employed by certain employers under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

Mr. Isaacs

As I informed the hon. Member for Luton (Mr. Warbey) on 25th June, I am in consultation with employers' and workers' organisations and will make an announcement at an early date.

Sir I. Fraser

When will that be?

Mr. Isaacs

I cannot say, but I can assure the House that it is a rather difficult problem to face. Under the terms of the Act, we have to take into consideration asking an employer to take a percentage of his total number of staff, and where firms have a very large number of women and a small number of men on their staffs, and the proportion has to cover the whole, some negotiation is necessary to keep the balance. I would like to say, as I have said before, that we are having the most cordial cooperation from employers and organisations in this matter.