§ 2. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled persons registered as unemployed in Cardiff at the most convenient recent date; what progress has been made in reducing the number during the past year; and whether he will announce his plans for helping those disabled persons who have been registered for employment for over a year.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Peter Thomas)401 on 20th March, compared with 503 in March, 1960. The disabled have benefited considerably from the steady improvement in the local employment situation during the past year, and my disablement resettlement officers will continue to do their best to find work for those remaining unemployed, including the 120 persons who have been unemployed for over a year.
§ Mr. ThomasWhilst thanking the hon. Gentleman for the encouraging figures he has given, which indicate that there is a reduction, may I ask how long he expects it will be before he can reduce the length of unemployment of those who have been unemployed for over a year?
§ Mr. ThomasNo, I am afraid I could not give the hon. Member any guess as to how long that will be, but it is quite clear that the employment situation in Cardiff is getting better week by week. I am very optimistic about the opportunities for those people to get employment in future.
§ Mr. CallaghanIs there any proposal to set up a new Remploy factory in the Cardiff area, because more than anything else that would help to solve this problem?
§ Mr. ThomasNo. there is no proposal to set up a new Remploy factory in the Cardiff area, but the question of an increase in the capitation grant for sheltered workshop employment is being actively considered at the moment.