§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the above-average rate of unemployment amongst registered disabled people; if he will take steps to ensure even the most severely disabled with a desire for work are given maximum help by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BoothRegistration as a disabled person is voluntary and the fact that many eligible people choose not to register means that the percentage of disabled persons unemployed does not accurately reflect unemployment among disabled people. My Department's aim is to provide the maximum possible help to all disabled people, including those who are severely disabled, to obtain and hold employment most suited to their circumstances.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for unemployment among severely disabled persons in the
158Wcourses which have been established in colleges of further education, giving details of the number of workers undertaking the courses and breaking down the total between male and female workers for each year since the courses were first established in further education.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerInformation is not available centrally about the number of courses in further education establishments, or about the proportion of students who are also workers, but the following table shows, by mode of attendance, the number of male (M) and female (F) students enrolled at November of each year available on courses leading to recognised qualifications in catering and institutional management at grant-aided establishments in England and Wales:
area covered by the Gravesend and Chatham employment areas.
§ Mr. BoothThe number of severely disabled people in the Gravesend and Chatham employment area registered as unemployed on 11th February 1974 was 131.