Disabled People (Hansard, 2 December 1996)

§ Mr. Paice

Committees for the employment of people with disabilities—CEPDs—were first set up under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 to perform specific functions related to the Act. In recent year's they have mainly been involved in providing advice and assistance to the Employment Service. The current terms of appointment of CEPD members cease on 31 March 1997.

The employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995—DDA—which come into force today, make fundamental changes to the way we approach the employment of disabled people, and will establish a new era of opportunity for them. In view of these new provisions, we have been considering whether the ES still requires local advisory arrangements. Consultations showed the value of partnership working between the ES and a range of local organisations and individuals able to influence positive developments in disabled people's employment in the local labour market.

We have taken into consideration the new opportunities that the DDA brings, the range of views expressed and the need to make best use of available resource. We have decided that the relevant provisions of the 1944 Act, under which CEPDS are appointed, will be repealed and that, with effect from April 1997, the ES will set up in each region a non-statutory regional disability consulting group.

These new regional consulting groups will provide a fresh, more streamlined approach to partnership working between the ES and relevant local organisations and individuals. The groups will be encouraged to contribute actively to the ES's regional and local initiative to promote improvements in the employment of disabled people.

I should like to take this opportunity to record my thanks for the important contribution made by current and past members of CEPDs and their predecessors. The new era which opens up today owes much to their willingness to work with the ES over many years to help improve the employment prospects for disabled people.