HC Deb 23 March 1950 vol 472 cc127-8W
80. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are registered at the employment exchanges in the City of Stoke-on-Trent; how many have been found employment since 1946; and how many have been trained and are being trained for employment.

Mr. Isaacs

At 16th January, 1950, the number of disabled persons registered at the local offices within the City of Stoke-on-Trent area was 9,236. On 14th March, 1950, there were 701 unemployed, including 208 classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. The earliest date from which placing statistics are available is 1st April, 1947. From that date to 31st January, 1950, 6,488 registered disabled persons were placed in employment. Since July, 1945, two hundred and seventeen disabled men have been trained under Government-assisted schemes and six are at present in training.

81. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Labour if he will arrange for the disabled persons who are registered in the City of Stoke-on-Trent to be trained for employment in the pottery industry, where it is desired, and that they shall be found employment when trained.

Mr. Isaacs

Under the Vocational Training Scheme, arrangements already exist for training both disabled and able-bodied men for the pottery industry. Fifty-four disabled men from Stoke-on-Trent have been trained in employers' establishments. All of them remained with their employer on completing their training.

82. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are registered at Longton employment exchange, Stoke, respectively; how many are ex-miners; and what are the prospects for employment.

Mr. Isaacs

On 17th October, 1949, there were 1,642 registered disabled persons at Longton employment exchange of whom 109, including 39 ex-miners, were unemployed. Twenty-three of the unemployed were classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. The corresponding figures for Stoke were respectively 1,624; 89 (including five ex-miners); and 29. There may be some difficulty in placing the unemployed but continuous efforts on their behalf are being made by my local officers and during the quarter ended 31st January, 1950, they were able to place 140 and 95 disabled persons in employment from Longton and Stoke respectively.