§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment what decisions he has taken concerning the continuation of the quota scheme for employment of disabled people; whether he has taken representations made in response to the Manpower 596W Services Commission's consultative document on the quota into account in making and decisions about the future of the scheme; and whether he is satisfied with the presentation of the background information in that document.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 30 October 1979, c. 467–68]: No decisions have yet been taken on the future of the quota scheme, the deadline for responses to the MSC's document being the end of this month. All responses will be considered during the coming months by officials and by the national advisory council on employment of disabled people and it is expected that the Manpower Services Commission will be making recommendations to Ministers in the latter half of 1980.
I am satisfied with the presentation of the background information in the discussion document.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many grants have been made to employers towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment to enable disabled people to obtain or retain employment since October 1978; and whether he intends to expand the provisions of the scheme.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 30 October 1979, c. 467–68]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that since 1 October 1978 approval has been given for 68 adaptations to premises or equipment.
Greater use of the scheme is being encouraged through general publicity, the mobile train exhibition and the "Fit for Work" campaign, which have already had the effect of increasing the number of applications made. There is no intention to expand the existing provisions of the scheme.