§ Mr. Wattsasked the Paymaster General how many schemes have been approved under the Manpower Services Commission scheme for pilot employment initiatives for disabled people; what funds have been allocated; and how many jobs are estimated to be provided.
§ Mr. LangA contract for one project has been placed, and so far four other projects have been approved in principle. The cost of the five projects to the Manpower Services Commission is estimated to be £180,000 over three years.
The scheme is designed to encourage and enable voluntary organisations to place disabled people into jobs elsewhere. The two projects which have specified the number of placings they aim to achieve expect to place some 65 people over the first three years. And the five projects so far approved will employ directly nine people.