§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what percentage of people in Northern Ireland who are registered disabled are(a) currently unemployed and (b) long-term unemployed; [3839]
(2) how many people are registered disabled in Northern Ireland. [3846]
§ Mr. AncramResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
509WLetter from Ian Walters to Ms Marjorie Mowlam, dated 15 November 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your questions about Registered Disabled People (RDP) in Northern Ireland.The total number of Registered Disabled People at 30 September 1996 was 9,340. Of these, 2,080 are actively seeking employment with help from the Training & Employment Agency's Disablement Advisory Service. The balance of 7,260 RDP are either in employment or are not currently seeking employment for reasons which include illness or a deterioration in their condition which precludes them, at least in the short-term, from the labour market.Of the active jobseekers 1,400 are long-term unemployed, ie they have been unemployed for 12 months or more.I hope you find this reply helpful.