§ 15. Mr. Attewellasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944; the total number unemployed and the number unemployed for 12 months and over; and the number severely disabled and in need of sheltered employment, respectively.
§ Mr. IsaacsNine hundred and seven thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine at 1st October, 1948. Of these 73,975 were unemployed, including about 20,000 who had been unemployed for 12 months or over. The number unemployed includes 10,660 classified as unlikely, 1791 owing to the nature and severity of their disablement, to get employment except under sheltered conditions.
§ Mr. AttewellWill the Minister indicate what steps are to be taken in order that more of these people may be employed in normal work, apart from those in need of help?
§ Mr. IsaacsAs regards normal employment, we rind that where the unemployment is heaviest we get the greater proportion of these disabled persons whom it is difficult to place. In reference to the others, very active steps are taken to continue the policy of building factories for the extremely disabled men.
§ Mr. ChetwyndHow many have been placed in sheltered employment?
§ Mr. IsaacsIn the 30 factories now operating, 1,685 have been placed and 86 are working in their own homes. There are 90 other factories under construction or being planned and we anticipate that when they are in operation they will completely absorb the balance of the disabled persons.
§ Mr. MurrayHow many are on the waiting list for training disabled men?
§ Mr. IsaacsThe balance of this 10,000 odd. The great majority of those who go into the sheltered factories have had no training; they get training before they go into the factories.