§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to increase the number of registered disabled persons employed in his Department; and when he expects to achieve the 3 per cent. target.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisRecruitment of executive officers for my Department is undertaken by the Civil Service Commission. If a candidate offered is disabled, every effort is made to find a suitable post.
Recruitment to clerical and similar grades is delegated to Departments.
All recruitment exercises are publicly advertised and the advertisements now mention that my Department is willing to consider registered disabled persons for vacancies. Local recruitment boards have been reminded of the undertaking to employ a quota of disabled persons.
Disablement resettlement officers are kept informed by the Civil Service 145W regional adviser when my Department is recruiting.
Staff now retiring include war disabled persons. Other registered disabled persons suitable for employment are not coming forward in response to recruitment advertisements in sufficient numbers to attain the 3 per cent. target. Since my Department tends to attract more female recruits than males, and because of the lower percentage of registered disabled persons amongst females, it is impossible to estimate when the overall quota target will be reached. Over 4 per cent. of the male staff in my Department are registered disabled.