§ Mr. Hewlettasked the Minister of Labour (1) can he now state the Government decision as to whether the employment of limbless and other seriously disabled war pensioners is to continue on a wholly voluntary basis, or whether it is the intention of his Department to reserve certain appropriate occupations for them;
(2) whether it is the intention of the Government to take a controlling interest in special workshops for the employment of disabled persons who are unfit for ordinary industry and to provide contracts for such Government requirements as can be produced in these workshops?
§ Mr. BevinComprehensive arrangements for the rehabilitation and re-settlement of disabled persons are under consideration and I hope to be able to make a statement in the near future.
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§ Mr. Hewlettasked the Minister of Labour the approximate numbers of disabled ex-servicemen employed with undertakings assisted by the old scheme of grants, and the numbers of disabled persons for whom sheltered employment might be found with existing undertakings eligible for grants under the new scheme?
§ Mr. BevinThe number of severely disabled ex-Service men in respect of whose employment with voluntary undertakings grant is being paid under the old scheme is about 100, but I have no statistics as to the total number of disabled persons now employed by such undertakings. My Department is in communication with the existing undertakings as to the numbers for whom they could provide sheltered employment under the new scheme of grants, and when the information is available I will write to my hon. Friend.