§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people have been helped to date under the job introduction scheme; how many were retained after the six-week period for which subsidy was payable; how many of those assisted are currently in employment with the employer to which the subsidy was paid; and if he will make a further statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 468 disabled people have been placed with employers under the job introduction scheme by the end of April 1978, since it started on 4th July 1977. The scheme is operated by disablement resettlement officers, who follow up all participants one month after the end of the six-weeks trial period. Reports on the first six months placements show that, of 166 participants, 134–81 per cent.—were still in employment with employers to whom a grant had been paid, at the follow-up stage. These figures are most encouraging, particularly considering that employers had doubts initially about498W employing the disabled people concerned.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled people were unemployed at the latest date for which figures are available in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and each English region respectively; and what were the comparable figures for the whole working population.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the information which relates to 11th May 1978 is as follows:
Number of unemployed registered disabled people All unemployed people England 59,145 1,066,774 Wales 4,193 86,845 Scotland 6,239 171,247 South East 15,017 304,621 East Anglia 2,166 35,037 South West 5,520 101,751 West Midlands 7,024 121,160 East Midlands 4,401 75,466 Yorkshire and Humberside 7,171 117,446 North West 11,983 199,184 Northern 5,863 112,109 Information about Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, from whom I understand that respective figures for Northern Ireland are 2,143 and 61,944.