§ 3. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Labour whether he will seek the early provision of additional forms of protective employment for persons disabled by chronic disease but capable of and needing whole-time or part-time employment.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Richard Marsh)Provision is made for severely disabled persons in the employment field who are not able to work in ordinary industry, in Remploy factories and in sheltered workshops run by local authorities and voluntary bodies. The possibility of extending this provision is kept under regular review. The provision of 1037 occupation for those outside the employment field is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.
§ Mr. HaleIs not my hon. Friend aware that that reply does not deal with the cases I have in mind? Though the Oldham Corporation has taken magnificent advantage of the facilities for providing employment for some unemployables, in the case of chronic disease I have been trying for years to get employment for two men suffering from haemophilia? I have cases of epilepsy petit mal, byssinosis, Parkinson's disease and disseminated sclerosis, muscular distrophy, all men suffering terribly, all men who would benefit from employment, and all men who need this sort of provision which a Labour Government really should provide.
§ Mr. MarshI am sure everybody accepts the point, but the distinction has to be made. Remploy exists for people who are capable of productive effort, and we hope that Remploy will be able to increase the number of severely disabled persons whom it employs. As for the other people, this is very much a question for local authorities and voluntary bodies. The Government are looking at both sides of this problem.
§ Mr. Peter EmeryDuring the regular reviews, will the Joint Parliamentary Secretary also bear in mind blind persons? Does he realise that after blind persons have been retrained for specific jobs they are often only able to obtain employment for as little as one or two days a week? This is most discouraging for them, and will the hon. Gentleman do everything in his power to ensure that employment is built up for blind persons?