§ 14. Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on his consultative document "Sheltered Employment for Disabled People".
§ Mr. ScottThe consultative document was published on 12th December. My right hon. Friend has already begun to receive some comments of interest.
§ Mr. TebbitI add my congratulations to my hon. Friend on his new position. Will he guide the House on how soon we might expect any action as a result of these proposals in the consultations which are now taking place?
§ Mr. ScottAs my hon. Friend knows, this is part of a review of our whole policy and approach to the treatment of the disabled. I cannot yet give a firm date, but we are giving high priority to the review.
§ Mr. PavittHas the hon. Gentleman gone further with representations made about this document by the National League of the Blind? If he has, will he write in due course to let me know whether such representations have been acceded to?
§ Mr. ScottWe are considering all the representations which have been made. I shall keep the hon. Gentleman informed.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerMay I remind the hon. Gentleman, as I reminded his predecessor on many occasions, that according to the figures of his Department nearly 9,000 firms are in flagrant and deliberate breach of the law? What action will his Department take regarding the firms which ignore the quota system?
§ Mr. ScottI think the hon. Gentleman will know from his experience in this Department that the interpretation of the quota arrangements has always been a matter of judgment. There have been few prosecutions. We are reviewing the whole question of our policies towards the disabled. It would be inappropriate now to alter present practice.