§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many mentally ill people are(a) unemployed, (b) in part-time employment and (c) in full-time employment, by sector.
Mr. JacksonInformation is not available in the form requested. A report of research commissioned by my Department's Employment Service and undertaken by Social and Community Planning Research contains some information on mentally ill people who are in employment or want work. A copy of the report, "Employment and Handicap", is in the Library.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement regarding his Department's policy on training and promotion of employment for the mentally ill.
Mr. JacksonMy Department provides a service for all people with disabilities treating each as an individual and identifying the most appropriate action. People who are mentally ill can use the full range of Employment Department services available to anyone with a disability who is capable of employment. The consultative document, "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities", contains proposals and intentions to improve the effectiveness of these services.
My Department seeks to encourage employers to adopt and implement good policies and practices in the employment of people with disabilities. Through means such as the "Code of Good Practice on the Employment of Disabled People" and our two videos, "It Can Be Done" and "It Worked Fine", which are promoted to employers by the Disablement Advisory Service, we offer employers advice and guidance on employing all people with disabilities, including those who are mentally ill. In October 1990 my right hon. and learned Friend launched a new symbol which can be used by employers to show publicly that they are committed to good practices and to encourage people with disabilities in seeking and keeping employment. In addition, my Department has, in conjunction with the National Association for Mental Health (MIND), prepared a leaflet for employers advising how people with mental illness can be successfully integrated into the work force.
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Civilian work force in employment3 1979 1989 Civilian employment in the service sector Civilian employment in manufacturing industries Civilian employment in the service sector Civilian employment in manufacturing industries per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent. United Kingdom 58.7 29.5 68.4 20.9 France 54.8 26.1 63.5 121.6 Federal Republic of Germany 50.0 34.5 56.5 232.2 Employment opportunities for people with severe mental health problems are provided under my Department's sheltered employment programme and the Employment Service's employment rehabilitation network already includes a number of agencies which specialise in mental health.
In training, our objective is to encourage integrated provision where this is possible, but we also recognise that sometimes very particular expertise is necessary to make training a success.
That is why my Department, with the help of specialist organisations, has produced a guide for training people with disabilities which includes specific advice on the needs of people with mental health problems and how to respond to them. We have also sponsored a number of projects aimed at creating or enhancing training and assessment facilities at the local level. The job of further developing this provision is now primarily the responsibility of training and enterprise councils.