§ 44. Mr. Boothasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the average number of severely disabled persons for whom sheltered employment was provided in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. FernyhoughThe question is best answered separately for blind people and for others. The annual totals for blind people in sheltered work for the five years 1964–68, inclusive, were 4,837, 4,756, 4,320, 4,116 and 3,873. This trend reflects a diminishing need; blind men and women are increasingly able to take up ordinary employment. There is, however, a growing need for sheltered employment for other kinds of severe disability, and the corresponding totals for sighted severely disabled persons are, 8,096, 8,643, 8,845, 9,060 and 9,414.