§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he will take in view of the fact that 26 out of 29 Government Departments are below the employment quota of 3½ per cent. of registered disabled, 14 nationalised industries, 14 electricity boards, 10 regional water authorities, every county council, 255 district councils, 34 of the Greater London Council, all with the 669W exception of the London borough of Newham.
§ Mr. John GrantI would refer my hon. Friend to the statements I made on 16th December 1976—[Vol. 922, c. 783–85]—and 21st December 1976—[Vol. 923, c. 438–9] and on 29th March 1977—[Vol. 929, c. 235–6].
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many firms in the Gravesend area were employing their quota of disabled workers on the latest date for which information is available; how many were exempted from doing so; and how many were subject to a quota obligation but failing to fulfil it;
(2) how many firms in the Medway area were employing their quota of disabled workers on latest date for which information is available; how many were exempt from doing so; and how many were subject to a quota obligation but failing to fulfil it.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that on 1st June 1976 29 firms in the area of Gravesend employment office were fulfilling their quota of registered disabled people, and 55 were not. There is no exemption from the quota obligation, but, of the 55 firms below quota, 26 had been issued with permits for the engagement of people not registered as disabled during the preceding 12 months. Corresponding figures for the Medway area, which in-
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Training Institution and Location Course category Number in training Skillcentre: Killingworth Construction … … 51 Engineering … … 50 Electrical/electronic … … 40 Plant and automotive … … 57 Limited skills … … 26 Colleges: Northumberland Technical College—Ashington Shorthand and typing … … 25 Care assistants … … 15 Introduction to office work … … 12 Preparatory … … 13 Clerk of Works … … 11 Medical receptionist … … 14 Hotel receptionist … … 4 Certificate in office studies … … 18 Home management and family care … … 10 Secretarial … … 5 Catering (City & Guides) … … 16 Northumberland College of Agriculture—Ponteland Sheep management … … 4 National certificate in agriculture … … 5 Farm secretarial … … 11 cludes Gravesend, were: 180 firms were fulfilling quota, and 281 were not. Of the latter, 136 had been issued with permits.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the latest figure for unemployment amongst registered disabled workers in the Medway area in numerical and percentage terms;
(2) what is the latest figure for unemployment amongst registered disabled workers in the Gravesend area in numerical and percentage terms.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that on 10th March 1977, 157–17 per cent.—registered disabled people were unemployed in the Gravesend employment office area. Figures for the Medway area, which includes Gravesend, were 1,116–20 per cent.