§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on legislation in other countries of the EEC and elsewhere that outlaws discrimination on the grounds of disability; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonBoth France and the United States of America have recently passed laws concerned with discrimination on the grounds of disability and similar310W legislation already applies in Canada and parts of Australia. Some EC countries other than France have laws apparently seeking to prohibit discrimination on any grounds; others take a different approach—for example, by the use of quota systems in the area of employment.
The question of legislation is discussed in the consultative document, "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities", issued by my Department earlier this year. The Government remain to be convinced that legislation to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of disability would be right for this country, for reasons given in the consultative document.