Blind Persons (Hansard, 12 February 1970)

§ Mr. Pavitt
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the training centres for the blind, the number of trainees and staff at each, the skills being taught, and the sponsoring body through which her Department supports these establishments.
391W

§ Mr. Dell
The following information relates to training centres for blind per-

Training Centre Number of blind persons in training (most recent available figures) Instructional staff involved Training Occupations Controlling Organisations

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

A. GOVERNMENT TRAINING CENTRE

1. Government Training Centre, Letchworth, Herts. 15 4 Introduction to light engineering (machine operating, repetitive assembly, inspection). Department of Employment and Productivity.

B. CENTRES RUN BY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

1. R.N.I.B. Commercial Training College. 16 7 Audio-Typing Telephony Royal National Insitute for the Blind.

2. R.N.I.B. School of Physiotherapy. 27 7 Physiotherapy Royal National Institute for the Blind.

3. Computer Programming Courses. — — Computer programming Courses arranged as necessary by R.N.I.B. and D.E.P. with Civil Service Department or computer manufacturers.

4. Royal Blind School, Edinburgh. 5 2 Shorthand typing, audio typing, telephony. Royal Blind Asylum and School Edinburgh.

(This School also trains blind persons as Social Welfare Officers for the Blind)

5. Mission to the Outdoor Blind for Glasgow. (Training is available for Social Welfare Officers for the Blind, but there are no government supported students at present) As in col. (1).

6. Northern Regional Association for the Blind. 3^* † Social Welfare Officer for the Blind. As in col. (1).

7. Southern Regional Association for the Blind. 2^* † Social Welfare Officer for the Blind. As in col. (1)

8. St. Dunstan's Organisation for Men and Women Blinded on on War Service. 15^* 7 Preliminary training, light engineering, telephony, audio typing. As in col. (1).

9. London College of Furniture. 5 1 Piano tuning and repairing. Inner London Education Authority.

^* In these classes government supported trainees are trained together with students sponsored by other organisations.

† Precise numbers cannot be stated. The instructional staff of the Associations are assisted by visiting speaker.

Blind persons who are only suitable for sheltered employment are given training on the job in sheltered workshops.

§ Mr. Pavitt
asked the Secetary of State for Employment and Productivity when negotiations with the Industrial Advisers of the Blind Limited and the National Association of Workshops for the Blind commenced; how many meetings have been held; and when she will report on the development of a national marketing scheme.
392W
sons seeking open employment whose training is supported by my Department:

§ Mr. Dell
Discussions between the Industrial Advisers to the Blind and the National Association of Workshops for the Blind under the aegis of the Department of Employment and Productivity commenced on 15th October, 1969.
Three meetings of the full group have so far been held. The extent to which a National Marketing Scheme for Workshops for the Blind is either practicable or desirable is not yet clear, and discussions are continuing. In the meantime 393W the group have unanimously agreed that workshops should make use of the special sales and new trades services recently initiated by Industrial Advisers to the Blind, and this recommendation has already been passed to workshops for the blind.

Training Centre	Number of blind persons in training (most recent available figures)	Instructional staff involved	Training Occupations	Controlling Organisations
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
A. GOVERNMENT TRAINING CENTRE
1. Government Training Centre, Letchworth, Herts.	15	4	Introduction to light engineering (machine operating, repetitive assembly, inspection).	Department of Employment and Productivity.

B. CENTRES RUN BY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
1. R.N.I.B. Commercial Training College.	16	7	Audio-Typing Telephony	Royal National Insitute for the Blind.
2. R.N.I.B. School of Physiotherapy.	27	7	Physiotherapy	Royal National Institute for the Blind.
3. Computer Programming Courses.	—	—	Computer programming	Courses arranged as necessary by R.N.I.B. and D.E.P. with Civil Service Department or computer manufacturers.
4. Royal Blind School, Edinburgh.	5	2	Shorthand typing, audio typing, telephony.	Royal Blind Asylum and School Edinburgh.
(This School also trains blind persons as Social Welfare Officers for the Blind)
5. Mission to the Outdoor Blind for Glasgow.	(Training is available for Social Welfare Officers for the Blind, but there are no government supported students at present)	As in col. (1).
6. Northern Regional Association for the Blind.	3^*	†	Social Welfare Officer for the Blind.	As in col. (1).
7. Southern Regional Association for the Blind.	2^*	†	Social Welfare Officer for the Blind.	As in col. (1)
8. St. Dunstan's Organisation for Men and Women Blinded on on War Service.	15^*	7	Preliminary training, light engineering, telephony, audio typing.	As in col. (1).
9. London College of Furniture.	5	1	Piano tuning and repairing.	Inner London Education Authority.
^* In these classes government supported trainees are trained together with students sponsored by other organisations.
† Precise numbers cannot be stated. The instructional staff of the Associations are assisted by visiting speaker.