HC Deb 17 October 1973 vol 861 cc231-2W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will hold a departmental inquiry into the reasons for the rise in the proportion of employers who are not complying with the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act to 38 per cent in 1972.

Mr. Dudley Smith

There is no need for further inquiry. The operation of the quota scheme, including the rise in the percentage of employers who do not employ a 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled persons, has been examined in depth by my Department and is fully discussed in the consultative document on the scheme which was published earlier this year.

Republic of Ireland Scotland United Kingdom
Men manual workers in manufacturing … … June 1972 October 1972 October 1972
Average hourly earnings … … … 67.1p 80.39p 82.09p
Average weekly earnings … … … £30.03 £35.45 £36.20
June 1973 10th September 1973 10th September 1973
Percentage unemployment rate—all workers … … 7.5* 4.1 2.5
* Excluding agriculture, fishing and private domestic service.

Miss Quennell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons of working age known to his Department are out of work; and what proportion he estimates is likely to obtain employment again.

Mr. Dudley Smith

The number of registered disabled persons known to be unemployed in September 1973 was 66,259, including 11,071 who because of the severity of their disabilities were considered unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. A further group of approximately 20,000 disabled people, unregistered but probably registrable, were also known to be unemployed. No estimate is possible of the proportion of these people, either registered or unregistered, likely to obtain employment again.

Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total number of prosecutions and the total of fines imposed in each of the last five years in respect of offences under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dudley Smith

There has been one prosecution in the last five years; this was in February 1973. The employer was fined £100. Proceedings are about to be instituted against another employer.