HC Deb 18 January 1984 vol 52 cc225-6W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many skilled engineering machinists are registered disabled; what proportion are (a) working and (b) not working; and if he will make a statement;

(2) how many engineering and draughtsmen/women are registered disabled; what proportion are (a) working and (b) not working; and if he will make a statement.

(3) how many of the skilled engineering machinists registered as disabled who are working have still 10 years of working life left; and if he will make a statement;

(4) how many registered disabled skilled engineering machinists, engineering designers and draughtsmen/women who are working have only (a) one hand and arm, (b) both arms and hands but no legs, (c) both arms and hands and one leg, (d) one arm and hand but no legs and (e) one arm and hand and one leg; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

I regret that this information is not available. Annual statistics of registered disabled people do not include details of their occupations or employment status.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of registered disabled who are registered disabled due to loss of limb or limbs but who are sighted and who are still working; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

In April 1983, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of registered disabled people for whom loss of limb or limbs is the main disability was 20,255. No information is available on their occupations, employment status or any secondary disability, but it would be reasonable to assume that most are sighted.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the pilot study being carried out at the Bolton institute of higher education into the reskilling of engineers made redundant by physical disability; and if he will give additional asistance to the scheme.

Mr. Peter Morrison

I understand that this was a part-time training course carried out in June and July 1983. It was initiated by tutors at the institute who offered to train unemployed engineers in the use of numerical and computer numerically-controlled equipment and expressed a preference for disabled people whose disability wuld not preclude them from undertaking this work. Because of limited local opportunities, none of the trainees has so far found employment using the skills taught.

The initiative did not involve financial support by my Department but the training was part-time and did not affect trainees' benefit entitlement.