§ 55. Miss Pikeasked the Minister of Labour whether he will take special steps to ensure that as many disabled persons as possible are put on the Disabled Persons Employment Register before any payment of the Selective Employment Tax becomes due.
§ Mr. GunterNo, Sir. Enrolment on the Disabled Persons Register is voluntary but every opportunity is already taken to bring the benefits of registration to the notice of persons who are substantially handicapped in obtaining or keeping employment.
§ Miss PikeIs not the Minister aware how very urgent this matter is? The unemployment rate among these people is five times higher than the national average. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman, like us, wants to know what effect the Selective Employment Tax will have on these people. Therefore, we must have the information as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. GunterI am sure that the hon. Lady knows that the Ministry of Labour always does its best to make the register of disabled persons as complete as possible. But we must retain it on a voluntary basis. We cannot make a 1234 person register if he or she does not want to do so. On the latter part of her supplementary question, the hon. Lady will know that probably the majority of the disabled persons will be in the manufacturing industries. We shall, however, keep a very careful watch on the subject.
§ Miss PikeThe point which I was trying to make was not that I wanted these people to be forced to register, but that the maximum amount of publicity should be given to this matter. Although there will be a refund, surely the right hon. Gentleman will accept that these people will still be at a disadvantage, because on the whole they are part-time workers and will still be uneconomic.
§ Mr. GunterI remind the hon. Lady that the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act and its quota will still exist and therefore there will be cover for disabled people.