§ 33. Mr. Greg Knightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent reaction he has received to the code of practice for the employment of disabled people.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkSince the new code of practice was formally launched by the Prime Minister on 14 November, the Manpower Services Commission's disablement advisory service has been promoting it among employers throughout the country. Initial indications are that it is being favourably received both by employers and by organisations representing disabled people. In addition both my right hon. Friend and the chairman of the commission have received a very positive response from the chairmen of major companies to whom they wrote immediately following the launch, seeking support for the code.
The hon. Gentleman will welcome the fact that the code has been endorsed by the Select Committee on Employment, the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Disabled People, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, the CBI and the TUC.
The Manpower Services Commission will continue closely to monitor the response to the code.