Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to establish the register of disabled persons at an early date; and whether certain occupations are to be designated at an early date and reserved exclusively for disabled persons.
§ Mr. ButlerThe answers to both parts of the Question are in the affirmative, though I contemplate that the designation of occupations reserved for disabled persons should not take place until after the register has been formed.
Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Labour the date on which he will impose an obligation on all employers to employ a quota of registered disabled persons; whether the decisions have been arrived at in regard to the quotas to be employed in various occupations, industries and Government Departments; and whether he is in a position to state what the quotas will be.
§ Mr. ButlerThe intention is to introduce the compulsory obligation on employers to employ a quota of disabled persons as soon as experience shows that, without it, there is any difficulty in providing suitable employment for registered disabled persons. I am not yet in a position to say what the quotas will be; this is at present under discussion with the interests concerned.
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Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Labour whether any decisions have been arrived at in regard to classes of articles in regular demand for Government or other public purposes to be produced in the sheltered workshops for severely disabled persons; and what steps are being taken to ensure adequate orders for the workshops.
§ Mr. ButlerThe Government have accepted the recommendation of the Tomlinson Committee that articles in regular demand for Government and other public purposes should provide a market for workshops specially set up for severely disabled persons. I anticipate no difficulty in giving effect to this as and when the need arises.