§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people receive assistance through the fares to work scheme.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that during the year ended 31st January 1977, 251 new applications for assistance under the scheme were received. Of these, 158 were approved and 93 rejected. It is 649W estimated that between 200 and 250 people were receiving assistance at any one time, during the year.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to ensure that disabled people know about the fares to work scheme.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the fares to work scheme is currently publicised in the general leaflets describing the disablement resettlement service. The Employment Service Agency has decided to publicise the scheme more widely by the issue of a leaflet, specifically about the scheme. It is now being printed. and is expected to be distributed within the month.
Disablement resettlement officers bring the scheme to the notice of all those disabled people likely to benefit when employment prospects are being discussed.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Employment when the fares to work scheme started; and what are the availble funds and expenditure figures to date.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the fares to work scheme was introduced in September 1947. The expenditure figures for the five years up to 1975–76 and the amounts budgeted for the years 1976–77 and 1977–78 were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Walasey (Mrs. Chalker) on 18th January 1977.—[Vol. 924, c. 120–121.]