HC Deb 08 April 1963 vol 675 cc910-3
38. Mr. Gourlay

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in Fife were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest available date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

39. Mr. J. Robertson

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in Renfrewshire were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest available date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

40. Mr. J. Hill

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in the Lothians were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest available date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

41. Mr. Steele

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in Dunbartonshire were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest convenient date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

42. Mr. Lawson

asked the Minister of Labour what number of disabled per sons in Lanarkshire were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest convenient date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

43. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in Aberdeen were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest convenient date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

44. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in Dundee were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest convenient date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

45. Mr. Oswald

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in Edinburgh were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest convenient date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

37. Mr. Willis

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in the Highland counties of Scotland were registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the latest available date; and what proportion of these was unemployed.

Mr. Hare

On 15th October, 1962, in the area covered by these Questions, there was a total of 41,067 on the disabled persons register. On 11th March, 1963, the 5,492 disabled persons registered as unemployed represented 13.4 per cent. of that total. As the information concerning individual areas consists of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Gourlay

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that 13 per cent. is rather a high figure of disabled persons unemployed? As many able-bodied persons in Scotland are unemployed, will he make stronger efforts to ensure that employers take a fair share of the number of disabled persons who are on the register?

Mr. Hare

On the whole, employers are doing their best to take their proper proportion. What is needed is more jobs and more new firms in order to do this. This is precisely the programme on which the Government have embarked.

Mr. Lawson

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the very fact that he does not give the answers to the Questions orally suggest that in some of the areas the percentage unemployment must be very much higher than 13? Since he cannot meet the problem of the able-bodied unemployed by the measures which have so far been taken, will he take extraordinary measures to deal with these persons?

Mr. Hare

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman did not mean what he said. I am not trying to hide the truth. It will all be in the OFFICIAL REPORT tomorrow. As there are 109 Questions on the Order Paper, I thought that, for the convenience of the House, it was right to deal with the Questions in this way.

Mr. Thomson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figures that he has given indicate an appalling measure of sheer human misery and frustration because many of the men have been unemployed for a very long period? Would he not at least consider that in those places where there are Remploy factories, their operations should be extended?

Mr. Hare

I am considering the whole time what can best be done to meet the problem. By far the best thing, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman will agree, is the provision of more jobs in new and expanding industries going to the areas of high unemployment.

Mr. Lee

To return to the supplementary question about Remploy factories, if the right hon. Gentleman cannot look at the situation nationally, would he look at the situation in the areas referred to by my hon. Friends in their Questions and see whether he can extend the Remploy facilities in places where the unemployment percentage is as high as has been mentioned?

Mr. Hare

I have already, I think, covered the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. Remploy deals only with the severely disabled, whereas the Question as tabled deals with the wider field of the disabled as a whole.

Following is the information required:

— Number of disabled persons registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944 on 15th October, 1962 Number of disabled persons registered as unemployed on 11th March, 1963, as a percentage of Col. (2)
(1) (2) (3)
Highland Counties 1,900 18.7 per cent.
Fife 3,716 15.1 per cent.
Renfrewshire 4,277 15.3 per cent.
The Lothians 8,599 10.8 per cent.
Dunbartonshire 2,370 14.0 per cent.
Lanarkshire* 5,647 14.8 per cent.
Aberdeen 4,117 16.1 per cent.
Dundee 3,849 14.8 per cent.
Edinburgh 6,592 9.0 per cent.
* Excluding Glasgow.

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