§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish the numbers of Government Departments which have a particular officer designated full time to promote the employment of disabled people within the Department.
§ Mr. ChannonAs the right hon. Member knows, in 1977 my Department issued a code of practice—"Employment of Registered Disabled People"—in which 367W each department was invited to appoint a departmental disabled persons officer at principal level. The code did not specify that one officer should be appointed full time to promote the employment of disabled people within the Department, because the deployment of staff and alllocation of duties are matters within the discretion of individual Departments. Many Departments, particularly those with regional organisations, have found it more effective for responsibilities to be shared by a number of staff at different locations.