§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what rehabilitation facilities are provided for the hearing impaired by the Manpower Services Commission; if he will advise the Manpower Services Commission to expand the range of occupations for which training is offered in order to provide career oppor- 92W two areas; and what were the corresponding figures for each year since 1966.
§ Mr. GoldingFollowing is the information:
tunities particularly suited to people with communication problems; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that rehabilitation facilities are available for hearing-impaired people at 26 employment rehabilitation centres run by their Employment Service Agency.
The training for disabled people provided by the Training Services Agency is vocational training for open employment. The Agency is unable to provide special training facilities to overcome communication problems, but profoundly deaf people with these problems have been trained. In these cases generally, the course has contained a major element of demonstration methods, or communication by lip-reading or sign language where possible. If necessary, the help of local societies for the deaf has been sought. The Agency runs a wide range of courses, and is prepared to consider individual cases for training where the communication problem can be overcome.