§ 34. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to find employment for the number of disabled men out of work in Cheltenham.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Roy Hattersley)Through the special employment services, which are provided by my Department for the disabled, my officers in Cheltenham take every opportunity to submit those disabled people who are unemployed for suitable vacancies which are notified. They also make special approaches to employers for possible openings.
Mr. Dodos-ParkerDo not these figures bear out the warnings so frequently given from this side of the House that there would be an increase of unemployment among the disabled because of the Selective Employment Tax? Will the hon. Gentleman approach the Chancellor of the Exchequer to do something to ameliorate the effect of this ridiculous tax on the disabled?
§ Mr. HattersleyAll the inquiries by my Department suggest that the tax has led to no significant increase in the number of unemployed among the disabled.