§ 17. Sir G. Sinclairasked the Minister of Social Security how many registered disabled were in receipt of unemployment benefit at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many were in receipt of unemployment benefit immediately before the introduction of the Selective Employment Tax.
§ Mr. PentlandNo records are kept of the numbers of registered disabled persons drawing unemployment benefit. However, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that between August, 1966, and March, 1967, the numbers of such men and women registered as unemployed, whether entitled to benefit or not, increased proportionately much less than did the total numbers registered as unemployed.
§ Sir G. SinclairShould not the Parliamentary Secretary have accurate figures of this group of people if the Ministry is adequately to help them? They are some of the people most needing help as a result of S.E.T.
§ Mr. PentlandWe have no figures in answer to the direct Question. The Ministry of Labour has no evidence that the introduction of S.E.T. has caused any discrimination by employers against disabled persons.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary recognise that part of the difficulty we have in dealing with these matters arises because of the shortage of information? Will he take steps to liaise with the Ministry of Labour and co-ordinate better the knowledge and information which we need? Will he reconsider the question of setting up a research unit, as suggested from these benches many months ago?
§ Mr. PentlandThere is liaison between my Department and the Ministry of Labour. In regard to this aspect of the question, it was ever thus under both Conservative and Labour Administrations.
§ Mr. MolloyOn the general question of the problems that afflict the already afflicted disabled, has my hon. Friend taken full cognisance of some of the proposals put to him by the Disablement Income Group?
§ Mr. PentlandYes. All of these proposals are being considered.
§ 18. Mr. Deanasked the Minister of Social Security how many people over retirement age were in receipt of National Insurance benefits owing to being unable to find employment, at the latest date for which figures are available, and immediately before the introduction of the Selective Employment Tax, respectively.
§ Mr. PentlandI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. DeanDoes the Parliamentary Secretary realise that this is very unsatisfactory? Does he not recognise that a tax on the employment of the old and, indeed, of the disabled is a bad tax? Does not he require more information so that he can make effective representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ Mr. PentlandThe question of a tax is for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.