Disability (Hansard, 30 November 1993)

§ 16. Mr. Bates
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures his Department is taking to improve access to work for disabled people.

§ 19. Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to improve the job opportunities for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
A new scheme, called access to work, will improve the range and type of help currently available under the Department's special schemes and proposals have been published for improving the help available through the sheltered employment programme.

§ Mr. Pickthall
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what consultations he has had with employers' organisations about the likely impact of changes in funding for access to work schemes; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations he has had from charities concerned with disability and employment on the proposals that employers should pay half the cost of employing people with disabilities who have been working for them for over six months; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend Lord Henley have been in correspondence with, and have met, a number of leading employer and disablement organisations about access to work, about which my right hon. Friend made a statement to the House on 22 June 1993,Official Report, column 102. When my right hon. Friend has reached decisions on details of access to work, including the employer contribution, a statement will be made to the House.