§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how much of the £½ million allocated in 1977 for altering work premises so as to give access to disabled workers has been claimed in that year and each subsequent year; whether this allocation has been increased; and if he will also classify these data according to the number of firms claiming help each year and the number of disabled persons gaining employment;
(2) if he will classify according to percentages the number of workers employed in (a) unskilled manual work, (b) semiskilled manual work, (c) skilled manual work, (d) clerical work, (e) managerial and supervisory work; and if he will also classify the numbers of disabled workers along the same lines;
(3) if he will estimate the number of workers who could be classified as disabled under the 1944 Act; and if he will list the numbers currently registered;
(4) if he will classify the numbers of registered disabled workers by each of the major industrial classifications; and if he will also list the numbers of unemployed registered disabled according to the same criteria along with the general level of employment in each of these industries;
(5) if he will classify the number of registered disabled workers who are in (a) open employment and (b) sheltered employment; and if the unemployment data for registered disabled workers could be similarly classified;
(6) if he will list the number and the percentage of firms (a) given exemption 257W and (b) without exemption from employing registered disabled persons for each year since the schemes' inception;
(7) if he will list (a) the number of industrial enclaves and (b) the number of registered disabled workers employed in industrial enclaves for each year since the schemes' inception;
(8) if he will list the number of people in sheltered employment for each year since 1960 together with the number of workers registering for sheltered employment over the same period;
(9) if he will list the number of firms failing to fulfil their quota who also failed to apply for a permit to employ able bodied workers for each year since 1960;
(10) if he will list the number of firms prosecuted under the Disabled Persons Act 1944 for failing to employ their quota of disabled workers, the number found guilty and the number against whom maximum fines were imposed for each year since the Act's inception.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what action he has taken to inform employers of the requirements of the Acts which impose obligations on them regarding the employment of disabled people;
(2) what steps he proposes to take to make the quota scheme for the employment of registered disabled people more effective; if he sees the fit for work scheme as one of these steps; and if he proposes to end the quota scheme at any time;
(3) how many Government permits have been issued to employees who claimed to be unable to employ their 3 per cent. quota of disabled people; what check is made on such claims; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how many payments have been made under the Manpower Services Commission's scheme for capital grants to employers of disabled people; what has been the total expenditure to date; and if he will make a statement about the operation and effectiveness of the scheme;
(5) what is the average length of time an unemployed registered disabled person has been out of work; by how much this figure is greater than the average 258W for all unemployed persons; and if he will make a statement;
(6) how many registered disabled people are unemployed; what is the number expressed as a percentage of the total registered disabled; and how this compares with the national average;
(7) how many employers with over 20 workers are not at present employing their quota of 3 per cent. disabled people; and how many of them do not hold Government permits of exemption;
(8) if he will publish in the Official Report the latest known and convenient public sector quota figures of disabled, expressed as numbers and percentages, for national and local government departments, including county councils and district councils.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.