§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of registered disabled who are unemployed in the Walsall area; and what measures are being taken to reduce that number.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that on 11 January 1979, the latest date for which information is available, 204 registered disabled people were unemployed in the employment area covered by the Walsall job centre.
The MSC is very concerned to reduce unemployment amongst disabled people. Efforts to persuade employers to adopt positive policies on the employment of disabled people will continue and will be boosted by a major promotional campaign this coming autumn. It is also hoped to hold a seminar for employers in Walsall before the end of the summer with the object of encouraging them to employ more disabled people. In addition recent measures such as the capital grants, job introduction and the revised fares to work scheme should help improve employment prospects for disabled people.
§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of employers in the Walsall area are meeting his Department's quota scheme for disabled people; and what steps his Department is taking to enforce the quota scheme in the Walsall area more strictly.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that at 1184W June 1978, the latest date for which information is available, 223 or 87.4 per cent. of employers subject to quota in the employment area covered by the Walsall jobcentre were complying with the law, either by satisfying quota—47.4 per cent.—or by obtaining permits before engaging able-bodied people while below quota—40 per cent. The remaining 12.6 per cent. of employers who were below quota and without permit had not necessarily broken the law unless they had employed able-bodied people without permit.
The MSC recognises the difficulties facing employers in satisfying quota, particularly as only disabled people who voluntarily register counts towards quota, and is aware of the need to reflect the true extent to which employment is being provided for disabled people. Since 1977 the MSC, with the support of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Disabled People, has conducted a campaign with the emphasis on persuasion rather than compulsion in the interests of helping disabled people get and keep worthwhile jobs. The campaign is based on the booklet "Positive Policies", a guide to the employment of disabled people, which has been issued to over 55,000 employers. The booklet urges the adoption of an enlightened approach to the training and career development of disabled people as well as to their recruitment. Its message is being emphasised to employers through a programme of visits by disablement resettlement officers.
The MSC is currently reviewing the quota scheme and assessing the impact of the approach outlined in "Positive Policies". The aim of the review is to help the Commission to make recommendations about the best way of helping disabled workers. The Commission will issue a discussion paper in the near future to give interested organisations a chance to give their views.
GeorgeMr. asked the Secretary of State for Employment, how many employers in the town of Walsall have participated in the job introduction scheme, in which financial assistance is granted to enable certain disabled people to undertake a trial period of employment, where there is reasonable doubt that the disabled person can perform the job; and how many employers in the town of Walsall have 185W been granted funds towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment made to enable disabled individuals to obtain, or retain, employment.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, by the end of January, 1979, 12 employers in the area covered by Walsall jobcentre had employed disabled people under the job introduction scheme since it commenced on 4 July 1977. I am also informed that no employers in the area covered by Walsall jobcentre have applied for or been given grants to make essential adaptations to their premises or equipment to enable them to engage or retain specific disabled employees.
§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people in the Walsall area have received allowances to go on employment rehabilitation courses; and what is the average allowance paid to each person.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, between June and December 1978, a total of 20 people from the Walsall jobcentre area attended employment rehabilitation courses. The amounts of rehabilitation
186W
Typical current minimum Cash increase proposed Percentage increase Proposed minimum … £ £ £ Licensed Residential etc.* … 34.00 6.40 18.8 40.40 Retail Bread etc. (Scotland)* … 31.45 6.75 21.4 38.20 Licensed Non-Residential—Barstaff … 32.30 8.70 26.9 41.00 Club stewards* … 35.80 7.30 20.4 43.10 Button Manufacturing … 30.00 8.00 26.7 38.00 Aerated Waters (Scotland) … 37.60 4.00 10.6 41.60 Ostrich and Fancy Feather … 32.40 5.60 17.3 38.00 Retail Bookselling etc.* … 35.00 7.50 21.4 42.50 Hairdressing Undertakings*—Operative Hairdresser … 32.50 4.50 13.8 37.00 " Other Worker " … 27.85 3.50 12.6 31.35 Retail Furnishing etc.* … 36.00 6.50 18.1 42.50 Retail Bread etc. (England and Wales)* … 33.20 8.80 26.5 42.00 Pin, Hook and Eye etc. … 37.40 7.10 19.0 44.50 Coffin Furniture etc. … 31.20 13.60 43.6 44.80 Ready-made Tailoring … 34.62 5.38 15.5 40.00† Retail Food Trades (England and Wales)* … 34.60 7.40 21.4 42.00† Retail Food Trades (Scotland)* … 34.60 7.40 21.4 42.00† Laundry … 34.00 7.00 20.6 41.00† Wholesale Mantle and Costume … 34.62 5.38 15.5 40.00† Shirtmaking … 34.40 5.60 16.3 40.00† Retail Bespoke Tailoring* … 35.46 5.54 15.6 41.00† Made-up Textiles … 33.00 5.00 15.4 38.00† Corset … 34.60 5.40 15.6 40.00† Boot and Shoe Repairing … 36.50 7.00 19.2 43.50† * These wages councils have awarded f44.50 or more to higher grades of workers. † At proposals stage—wages order not yet made. alowances paid very considerably according to the personal circumstances and age of the rehabilitees, but I am informed that the average allowance paid to the 20 rehabilitees was £29.18 per week.