Disabled People (Employment)

HC Deb 28 November 1985 vol 87 cc632-3W

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Paymaster General whether he now has any plans to seek to make the code of practice on the employment of disabled people mandatory.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

We have no present plans to do so.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Paymaster General if the Government have any plans to ratify the International Labour Organisation's convention No. 159 concerning vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled people.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the hon. Member on 18 January at column237, the decision not to ratify convention No. 159 was announced by my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Employment, by way of a White Paper (Cmnd. No. 9417) which was laid before Parliament on Friday 21 December 1984. In this White Paper the Goverment outlined clear reasons why it was unable to proceed with ratification. The Government's position remains unchanged.