§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is presently being taken by his Department to improve the number of disabled persons being provided by employers in the North West with suitable opportunities to work.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe employment prospects of disabled people depend primarily on the general employment situation and disabled people, like others in the region, can be expected to benefit both from the measures against unemployment which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced last month and from the aid available to assisted areas under the Industry Act, 1972.
The specialist employment, rehabilitation and training services of the Man- 24W registered for up to 26 weeks, about 14 per cent. for over 26 and up to 52 weeks and about 25 per cent. for over 52 weeks.
§ Mr. Crawfordasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the unemployment figures for Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Austria on the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. John FraserThe table below gives the numbers unemployed and the percentage rate of unemployment for each country for July 1975, the latest date for which information is generally available, and also for the latest month for each country. The figures reflect different national practices in measuring unemployment are are not strictly comparable:
power Services Commission's two executive agencies continue to do everything possible to promote the employment of disabled people and steps are being taken to improve these services in accordance with plans published last year. The quota scheme and sheltered employment are under review and I hope to announce the Government's proposals for the future later this year. Meanwhile the need for further provision of sheltered employment in the North-West, as elsewhere, is being kept under careful review and detailed surveys are currently being undertaken in Lancashire and Cheshire.