HC Deb 05 June 1967 vol 747 cc623-4
53. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women on the register of disabled were unemployed in April, 1966; and how many in April, 1967.

Mr. Fernyhough

On 18th April, 1966, 45,192 registered disabled persons (39,650 males and 5,542 females) were registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. On 10th April, 1967, the corresponding figure was 58,048 (50,889 males, 7,159 females).

Mr. Goodhart

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that for many disabled this is disaster? Is he aware that it is becoming increasingly difficult for disabled in many areas to get the sort of employment which they need, because of the Selective Employment Tax?

Mr. Fernyhough

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's sympathy with the disabled and I hope that he will accept that I am at one with him on that. I hope that he will also accept that although the disabled have not been sheltered from the Government's economic measures, the percentage has been no greater than the general increase in unemployment. In other words, the disabled have not fared any worse than the general body of workers.

Mr. R. Carr

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that while we all have sympathy, we all want action? Do not those figures reinforce the point which I made earlier—that now that we have adopted the method of paying a premium for some workers, it ought to be paid for all disabled employees?

Mr. Fernyhough

This is not the appropriate time for a discussion of that matter. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] Because nobody is yet in a position to say what the final consequences of this tax are.