HC Deb 27 January 1964 vol 688 cc15-7
26. Mr. Millan

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest figure available for registered disabled unemployed in Glasgow; and how many of these have been unemployed for more than twelve months.

Mr. Whitelaw

On 9th December, 1963, 2,412 registered disabled persons were unemployed in the Glasgow area. The latest date for which information about duration of unemployment is available is 15th July, 1963, when 2,212 registered disabled persons were unemployed, of whom 796 had been unemployed for twelve months or more.

Mr. Millan

Are not these quite appalling figures, and do not they demonstrate that there is a very serious problem of long-term unemployment among disabled people? Apart from what Remploy does for the severely disabled—and I should like to see an expansion in that respect—is there not a case for expansion of other kinds of sheltered employment for those less severely disabled who, despite that, find great difficulty in getting employment?

Mr. Whitelaw

I agree that this is a difficult problem. As to the question of solving it, I am convinced that the best answer is to increase the amount of economic activity in the area as a whole. This provides opportunities for the disabled—particularly for the less severely disabled—and, at the same time, for able-bodied people. That is the Government's intention.

Mr. Millan

Is the hon. Gentleman saying that the Government intend to do nothing at all about providing special employment opportunities for disabled people? Despite any expansion of economic activity, a good deal of this problem will remain. Will not the Government do something about it?

Mr. Whitelaw

The hon. Gentleman must not put words into my mouth. I said that the best way of solving the problem was to increase economic activity, and to that I hold. We must see that full use is made of the special measures, such as Remploy and the quota scheme under the Disabled Persons Employment Act. In the final event, however, particularly as it concerns the less severely disabled, the answer must be to provide more economic activity. This will provide more jobs all round.

27. Mr. Small

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered deaf adults were unemployed in Glasgow at the latest available date; and how many of these have been unemployed for more than twelve months.

Mr. Whitelaw

The latest date for which figures of unemployed registered disabled persons classified by disabilities are available is April, 1963, when 112 adults were recorded as suffering from defects of hearing. Information about duration of unemployment by disability is not available.

Mr. Small

Does the hon. Member recognise that the figure of 100 represents a hard core and that the association which caters for the welfare of the deaf is concerned about the sophisticated trends in industry and the chances of the deaf to be engaged in the changing world of job opportunity? Is the Minister's Department doing its best in the interests of this section of the community, which is a hard core which will be with us for a long time?

Mr. Whitelaw

I note what the hon. Member says. I hope that we are doing our best for these people. Our disablement resettlement officers work in very close co-operation with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf. The Ministry, in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and the voluntary organisations, has prepared a leaflet which is issued to prospective employers to help them to understand the problems of the deaf. Our disablement resettlement officers, on the whole, report that they have less difficulty in placing deaf people than many other classes of disabled people.