§ 1. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Labour to make a statement about the work of the Committee on the Disabled set up under the chairmanship of Lord Piercy in March, 1953; and when this Committee will publish a report.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Harold Watkinson)The Committee of Inquiry on the Disabled is still engaged in hearing evidence from interested bodies, but I understand it hopes to furnish its report later in the year.
§ 2. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the need for a special approach to the matter of the training and subsequent placement in employment of spastics, whose need is habilitation rather than rehabilitation; and if he will set up, or co-operate with the voluntary organisations in setting up, an experimental unit for this purpose under the provisions of the Disabled Persons Employment Act, 1944.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am aware that some spastics at school-leaving age or later may be able to profit from a special course of preliminary training designed to enable them to use their limbs more effectively, and I understand that the voluntary organisations concerned have in mind the establishment of centres where this kind of training could be given. One of the 3 voluntary organisations has discussed this approach with my officers and is aware of the extent of the assistance which could be given at a later stage of training under the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs my hon. Friend aware that the existing centres cater chiefly for the very lightly handicapped spastics, and, as a result of this, the hard core of the problem of the employment and training of spastics is not really touched?
§ Mr. WatkinsonIt is hoped that, as a result of the initiative of the bodies interested, there will be further centres, and, if so, we shall do what we can to help.