§ 26. Mr. Willisasked the Minister of Labour how many persons registered in Edinburgh under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 were registered as unemployed at the latest available date; and how many of these have been unemployed for 12 months or more.
§ Mr. GodberOn 14th October, 1963, 389 registered disabled persons were 617 registered as unemployed in Edinburgh. Information about duration of unemployment was last obtained on 15th July, 1963, when 329 registered disabled persons were unemployed, of whom 132 had been unemployed for more than a year.
§ Mr. WillisDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the figures indicate that the facilities provided by Remploy ought to be extended?
§ Mr. GodberRemploy deals with the more severely disabled, but the majority of disabled are those who would not qualify for work at Remploy. There are real difficulties here, as I know the hon. Member is aware. As far as I understand the position of Remploy in this area, however, there is not a large number of those who are qualified waiting to enter a factory.
§ Mr. WillisWill the right hon. Gentleman carry out a survey of these disabled men in order to do something for them, because they are unemployed for a very long time and suffer greatly as a consequence?
§ Mr. GodberIt is a real difficulty. All my disablement resettlement officers are employed on exactly this work and are doing all they can to find employment for these disabled people, but, for various reasons as I am sure the hon. Member is aware, there are difficulties.