HC Deb 09 December 1980 vol 995 cc778-9
10. Mr. Neil Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the present level of employment opportunities for the disabled in industry and commerce during the current recession.

Mr. Mayhew

We should like to see more. We support the Manpower Services Commission in encouraging and assisting firms to employ disabled people. We regard that as very important. Our support for the fit for work campaign and its awards scheme reflects that concern.

Mr. Thorne

Accepting that long-term unemployment for the able-bodied can be soul destroying, and that long-term unemployment for the disabled is devastating, will my hon. and learned Friend please look into the possibility of giving greater encouragement especially to disabled people who have become unemployed through redundancy?

Mr. Mayhew

I think that my hon. Friend knows that the disablement resettlement officers of the Manpower Services Commission do their utmost to encourage employers not to make disabled people redundant. The Manpower Services Commission is conducting a review into the quota scheme under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944. That review will very shortly be complete, and my right hon. Friend and the Commission will be considering it as soon as it is made available.

Mr. John Grant

Will the Minister accept that there is a sharp increase in the number of unemployed disabled people and, more important, that the placings are falling very considerably and proportionately to other unemployed people? Is not that undermining the very schemes that the Minister mentioned—the "Positive Policies" scheme and the fit for work campaign? When will he come to the House and tell us what are the effects of the Government's cuts on the employment of disabled people and, in particular—since he mentioned them—the effect on the number of specialist disablement resettlement officers that the Government are proposing to cut?

Mr. Mayhew

It is true that, regrettably, placings are down this year. There is no concealing the fact that, unfortunately, there is a long way to go before one can convince all employers that disabled people are in very many cases much fitter for work than is commonly supposed. But my right hon. Friend said that he was hoping to preserve the disabled resettlement service from the effects of cuts and that he would come to the House if that were not possible. The point is that these unfortunate people have to be assisted to the best of the Government's ability, and that is a commitment that we shall honour.