§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action to make the public aware of the potential abilities of paraplegic and tetraplegic persons; if he will encourage all organisations to use their best services in helping to integrate such disabled people into society; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisYes, I and my colleagues already take every opportunity publicly to stress the importance of looking not just at the disabilities of disabled people, but also at their abilities. The designated demonstration centres for rehabilitation will improve the situation by making more widely known to professional workers, voluntary bodies and the public in general the kinds of treatment aids and facilities, care and co-operative effort necessary to enable paraplegics and tetraplegics, among other disabled groups, to develop their abilities to the full.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment is aware of the need to inform employers about the abilities and talents of all disabled people, and the Manpower Services Commission (ESA) which is now responsible for the resettlement of disabled people in employment is publishing a number of leaflets to this end.
As my hon. Friend is aware, disablement resettlement officers of the ESA play a key role in bringing the employment needs and abilities of individual paraplegics and tetraplegics to the attention of employers. I am also sending my hon. Friend a copy of the ESA's new publication "Outlook" which is designed to publicise the resettlement, rehabilitation and training of disabled people. The publication includes an article entitled "Paralysis Needn't Paralyse Will".