Mr. AlfredMorris asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people with physical disabilities and psychiatric disorders, respectively, are currently waiting for places at employment rehabilitation centres; and what is the average waiting time for each group.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that at 3 March 1980 1,890 people were awaiting admission to an ERC, of whom 185 were regarded as having a psychiatric disability. Of the other 1,705 persons, it is estimated that 1,480 had physical disabilities. The average waiting periods for all categories of ERC clients are five and a half weeks for those able to attend an ERC on a daily basis and six and a half weeks for those needing to go into lodgings for the period of their attendance. In the case of psychiatrically disabled clients the waiting times are seven and a half weeks and just over six weeks respectively. Separate figures are not available for the average waiting periods for clients with physical disabilities.