HC Deb 29 June 1973 vol 858 cc424-6W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people are registered in the county of Bedfordshire; and what are the categories of disablement making up this total.

Mr. Dudley Smith

On 16th April 1973 there were 4,340 people registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958 at employment offices in the County of Bedfordshire. These included 1,653 with surgical disabilities, 1,839 with medical disabilities, 205 with mental disorders and 643 with other types of disablement.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people are employed in the county of Bedfordshire.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Of the 4,340 people in the county of Bedfordshire registered in April 1973 under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958, 221 were known to be unemployed. Most of the remainder were probably in employment, although it is impossible to give a specific figure. It is known, however, that in May 3,153 were employed in firms with 20 or more employees, that is, those with a quota obligation.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled in the county of Bedfordshire fall within the age groups, under 18 years, 19 to 50 and over 50 years of age; and what percentage of the total are males.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Males constituted 89.8 per cent. of the 4,340 people registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts at employment offices in the county of Bedfordshire on 16th April 1973. Of these 4,340, four were aged under 18. Information about the age distribution of the adults on the disabled persons register is available only for those known to be unemployed. In January, of the 257 registered disabled persons in Bedfordshire known to be unemployed, 111 were aged 18 to 50 and 146 were over 50.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, of the total number of disabled in the county of Bedfordshire, how many are ex-Service men.

Mr. Dudley Smith

On 16th April 1973, the number of ex-Service men included on the registers kept under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958 at our employment offices in the County of Bedfordshire was 1,940.

Mr. Ted Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of employers whose work force contains less than 3 per cent. of disabled people.

Mr. Dudley Smith

When the annual survey was made in May 1972, 34,794 employers of 20 or more workers—that is to say, those with obligations under the quota scheme—had less than 3 per cent. of registered disabled people among their work force; but there is evidence which suggests that many of these firms were employing substantial numbers of unregistered disabled people. No reliable estimate is possible for firms with no quota obligation.