HC Deb 11 November 1968 vol 773 cc25-6W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what are the latest figures for the number of people registered under the Disabled Persons Act who are unlikely to obtain employment except in sheltered occupations;

(2) what proportion of people who are only able to work in sheltered occupations is at present unemployed.

Mr. Fernyhough

This information is not available since no distinction is made in the Disabled Persons Register. The suitability of registered disabled persons for open or sheltered employment is considered when they are seeking work, and it is not until that stage that separate records are kept. But on 9th September 1968, out of a total of 64,535 registered disabled persons unemployed, 9,020 were regarded as capable only of work under sheltered conditions.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many employers have made special application for employing a reduced quota of disabled persons; and how many of these applications have been granted.

Mr. Fernyhough

Precise information about the number of employers who have made special application for employing a reduced quota of disabled persons is not available. However, only one of the applications received since 1957 has been granted. This operated for a period of six months.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many employers have applied for permits to engage people not registered as disabled when they are below their disabled persons quota; and how many applications have been granted.

Mr. Fernyhough

Permits to engage, for particular vacancies, persons not registered as disabled were issued to 21,021 firms between 1st June 1967 and 31st May 1968. Information about the number of applications for permits is not readily available.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many prosecutions have been undertaken against employers in each of the last five years for failing to comply with the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

Mr. Fernyhough

One such prosecution in the last five years. This took place in December 1964 and was successful.