§ 4. Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Minister of Labour what provisions for employment in Ilford there are for physically handicapped persons who have reached the age of 18 years.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. E. Fernyhough)Disabled persons capable of remunerative work under ordinary conditions are helped to find suitable jobs by the Disablement Resettlement Officer at the Ilford Employment Exchange. Where appropriate, courses of industrial rehabilitation or vocational training can be arranged. For residents of Ilford the nearest Industrial Rehabilitation Unit and Government Training Centre are at Perivale. For those severely disabled people who need employment under special conditions there is a Remploy factory at Barking.
§ Mr. ShawI appreciate that answer. However, is my hon. Friend aware of the anxiety of a number of parents in the borough particularly for the future of their children on leaving the shelter of the Youth Employment Service? Can he make available within the area some form of sheltered occupation for workers of this kind?
§ Mr. FernyhoughI am happy to be able to tell my hon. Friend that two occupational centres are planned for the new London Borough of Redbridge, which includes Ilford. One is for 90 places, 40 for the mentally handicapped 66 and 50 for the physically hanidcapped, and is expected to open in 12 months. The other is for the physically handicapped only and is expected to open in three years. The number of places which this will provide has not yet been decided. There is a social and diversionary centre operated by the Redbridge and Havering Spastics Association.