§ 2.35 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of county councils in England and Wales, and what proportion in Scotland, have implemented their duty of employing 3 per cent, disabled persons; what are the proportions in the case of other local authorities; what steps are taken, and by whom, to enforce the fulfilment of this duty; and what is the situation among private employers.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (LORD LLOYD)My Lords, at the end of July, 1953, of a total of 62 county councils in England and Wales, 33 were employing 3 per cent, or more of registered disabled persons, 21 employed a percentage ranging from 2.5 to 2.9, and 8 employed under 2.5 per cent. Of the 31 county councils in Scotland, 15 employed 3 per cent. or more registered disabled persons, 8 employed a percentage ranging from 2.5 to 2.9, and 8 employed under 2.5 per cent. Separate records are not kept showing the quota position of other local authorities, but in 1951 a special inquiry showed that practically all other local authorities were satisfying their quota obligation.
Every employer who employs more than twenty workers, and is therefore subject to the quota obligation, is required to keep such records as are necessary to show compliance with the 356 Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, and these records are open to inspection by officers of the Department. Every year inquiry is made of all such employers, either by letter, telephone, courtesy visit or formal inspection, to find out the quota position. These inquiries are spread over the year, so that it is impossible to say what the position is at any particular date; but the results of the inquiries in 1953 showed that the great majority of employers satisfied their quota, and in no case was the offence considered serious enough to warrant prosecution. An employer who is below his quota may not engage a person other than a registered disabled person without a permit from the Ministry of Labour local office.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his full Answer. However, I should like to ask Her Majesty's Government whether, having regard to the rather poor showing of the local authorities as compared with private employers, if they cannot venture to prosecute local authorities as they do private employers, they will endeavour to use other means to get local authorities to fulfil their duty in the same way that private employers do.
LORD LLOYDMy Lords, obviously Her Majesty's Government do their best to persuade all employers, whether local authorities or private employers, to conform with the Act. I would point out to my noble friend that the Government are convinced that efforts are being made by the authorities to reach the quota if possible. My noble friend will realise that the local authorities encounter difficulties of a rather special nature, partly because of the reluctance of disabled staff to register, partly because of the high medical standard required for certain categories of employees, such as teachers, and also because of the number of vacancies in country districts for school meals service, et cetera, for which disabled persons are not available.