§ 45. Mr. George Thomasasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of registered disabled persons who are unemployed in South Wales at the nearest convenient date.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs)On 20th December, 1948, 12,224.
§ Mr. ThomasIs my right hon. Friend aware that, despite the appreciation for the vast field of new industry which has been introduced into South Wales in the last three and a half years, there is still considerable disquiet about the employment of our disabled persons? Can he offer any promise that he is hoping to reduce the number in the near future?
§ Mr. IsaacsI appreciate the disquiet in the locality. One of our problems in that area is silicosis. That problem is a little more difficult to deal with than that of the ordinary disabled person. However, I can promise that we hope that by steps now being taken, as I indicated the other day, we can tackle that problem.