HC Deb 10 February 1948 vol 447 cc44-7W
96. Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are now employed at the Oldham disabled persons training centre; and what is the maximum it is hoped to employ.

Mr. Isaacs

There is no disabled persons training centre at Oldham, and I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the training centre for the cotton industry there. This accepts for training disabled persons who are suitable for employment in the industry. Of the total of 38 men and 98 women now in training in the centre, three men are disabled. Three disabled persons are awaiting admission to the centre and it is hoped to arrange this shortly.

100. Sir R. Acland

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give special attention to the difficulty in finding employment for disabled men in the Gravesend area; to what extent a corresponding difficulty exists generally throughout the country; and whether he will consider raising the necessary percentage of disabled men employed in larger establishments from 3 per cent. to some higher figure, either generally or in areas where special difficulty is experienced.

Mr. Isaacs

The number of registered disabled men unemployed on 19th January, 1948, at Gravesend was 105, of whom 77 are classified as capable of ordinary employment and 28 as severely disabled needing sheltered employment. Every effort is being made to find employment for these men in this area as in other areas where there is a similar problem. The position varies as between one area and another throughout the country but there is no power to fix special percentages for particular areas. Taking the country as a whole I am not convinced that an immediate increase in the percentage obligation would be appropriate or effective; but, in order to explain the position, I give the following statement on the measures taken to secure compliance with the existing obligation.

Total Letters Issued. Replies received indicating:— No reply:—
Quota satisfied. Visits requested.
Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage.
79,840 45,067 56.5 21,502 26.9 13,271 16.6

During the period 1st December, 1946, to 26th July, 1947, visits were paid to 12,500 employers who had requested them.

A systematic programme of inspection was introduced last autumn, starting with those cases in which no reply had been received to the letter of inquiry. This programme will be pursued until all employers are covered but, as there are some 80,000 employers involved, it cannot be completed with the limited staff available before early next year. Special inspections are, however, arranged in the event of complaints or other evidence of non-compliance reaching my Department.

Following is the statement:

There is no power under the Act to require employers to submit returns of the number and percentage of registered disabled persons in their employment, and it is not possible, therefore, to present any exact record of the position. Every employer with 20 or more workers is, however, required under the Act to record particulars of his staff and of his registered disabled employees. I have power to inspect these records, and it is through such inspection that non-compliance is detected. Failure to employ the quota is not of itself an offence under the Act; an offence arises when an employer who is below his quota engages a worker who is not registered as disabled without first obtaining a permit from my Department. Failure to keep records in the prescribed manner is also an offence.

As a preliminary step to formal inspection I arranged in October, 1946, for the issue of a letter of inquiry to all employers with 20 or more workers. This letter asked the employer to indicate whether he was employing his quota and offered the services of one of my officers to discuss any difficulties. The result of this inquiry at the end of July, 1947, was as follows:

The inquiries made last year revealed non-compliance of a minor or technical character in the case of about half the total of employers visited, and it was found possible, in general, to correct the errors immediately. Breaches of the Act have also been revealed by the formal inspections, but in no case has the noncompliance been sufficiently serious to justify the institution of legal proceedings. Despite the considerable publicity which this Act and its various schemes have received the extent of the ignorance among employers of its provisions, more particularly in regard to the Quota Scheme, has been surprising, but the general attitude of employers has been co-operative and there is abundant evidence of willingness to comply with the statutory obligations.

Mr. Randall

asked the Minister of Labour what were the number of registered disabled men recorded as unemployed in Great Harwood, Lancashire, and the total number of days unemployed and employed during 1947; and what efforts are being made under the quota scheme and otherwise to place them either in suitable employment or under sheltered conditions.

Mr. Isaacs

The number of registered disabled men recorded as unemployed at Great Harwood on 15th December last was 50, of whom six were classified as severely disabled and needing sheltered employment. Exact details of employment and unemployment by days during 1947 are not readily available, but in the 44 less severe cases the periods of unemployment were as follows:

  • In 10 cases—8 weeks or less.
  • In 6 cases—from 8–13 weeks.
  • In 6 cases—from 13–26 weeks.
  • In 9 cases—from 26–52 weeks.
  • In 13 cases—for more than 52 weeks.

Continuous effort is made by the employment exchange, through direct approach to employers and otherwise, to find suitable employment for these men having regard to the individual disability.