§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in each of the past 10 years, how many prosecutions have been undertaken for contraventions of the 3 per cent. disabled persons employment quota under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944; how many convictions were obtained; what average penalties were imposed; and what action he is now taking to secure a much higher degree of compliance with this requirement of the Act.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
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DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SUBVENTION TO REMPLOY £ million 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 Revenue … … 10.114 15.001 16.523 20.204 22.705 26.557 Interest-free loans for capital items … 1.141 1.797 2.387 1.876 2.247 4.470 Total … 11.255 16.798 18.910 22.080 24.952 31.027 Numbers and proportion* of Remploy employees with mental disabilities as at March of: Psychoneuroses Other mental illnesses Mentally subnormal Number Per cent. Number Per cent. Number Per cent. 1974 … … 299 3.7 388 4.8 727 9.0 1975 … … 332 4.0 399 4.8 797 9.6 1976 … … 365 4.3 433 5.1 908 10.7 1977 … … 351 4.4 399 5.0 861 10.8 1978 … … 363 4.6 403 5.1 884 11.2 1979 … … Information not yet available * Proportion of the severely disabled workforce.