§ 63. Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an assessment of the "Fit for Work" campaign to increase employment opportunities for disabled people.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the "Fit for Work" campaign will be continuing well into 1980 but that it regards the early signs as encouraging. The mobile train exhibition, which was opened in 17 September by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, was visited by 2,000 leading employers and trade union representatives, as well as by many other people at open sessions during its tour of 12 major industrial centres. In addition some 300 local presentations are being held to spread the aims and messages of the campaign throughout the country, and altogether some 10,000 employers and trade union representatives are expected to attend them.
The publicity created by the train and the presentations—so far—together with the pre-exhibition distribution to firms of 75,000 information wallets seems to have engendered a greater awareness of the employment potential for disabled people and should help in the long term to improve employment opportunities. It is also hoped in the longer term that it will change attitudes too.
It is too early, however, to assess the campaign in terms of the number of disabled people placed in jobs or of greater take-up of special MSC schemes but information on these is being collected.
The MSC's new award scheme for firms which did most to implement constructive policies was launched during the campaign. So far 21 applications have been received. The closing date is 31 March 1980.
The campaign has provided a strong boost to the MSC's disablement resettlement officers in their task of helping to resettle disabled people into jobs. Both they and other MSC officials will be visiting firms to follow up the campaign's objectives over coming months.
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