HC Deb 19 July 1977 vol 935 cc521-5W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advice has been given to the Employment Services Agency about the legal implications of its refusing mobility help to a disabled person if in consequence that person is then rendered unable to work; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Grant

None. I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the assistance with fares to work scheme which is paid for out of grant in aid and is administered by the Employment Service Agency. I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employ- ment Service Agency has had no cause to seek legal advice. Financial assistance can be given towards meeting excessive cost of travel incurred by certain disabled people with serious mobility problems who are unable to use public transport, in attending for courses of rehabilitation or training or travelling to work. The Employment Service Agency would not refuse financial assistance to a disabled person who satisfied the conditions for entitlement to assistance under the fares to work scheme.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions between the Manpower Services Commission and the Department of Health and Social Security concerning the long-term implications for disabled people who travel to work, of the introduction of the mobility allowance and the phasing out of the invalid tricycle.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employment Service Agency, which operates the scheme to assist disabled people to travel to work, is still engaged in discussions on this matter with the Department of Health and Social Security. Officials are urgently considering how best to resolve these issues.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further consideration the Employment Services Agency has given to the establishment of a small unit to specialise in the employment of severely handicapped people; and if he will make a further statement.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employment Service Agency, which operates the disablement resettlement service, is currently carrying out an in-depth organisation survey of the service. The question of how best to provide for the needs of the more severely disabled clients is being given special attention and the establishment of special units is one of a number of possible solutions that might be recommended.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current average weekly payment to a disabled person under the Employment Services Agency's fares-to-work scheme.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the average weekly payment in a sample of 100 currently authorised cases is £10.3.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what grounds unsuccessful applicants for help under the fares-to-work scheme in the past 12 months have had their claims refused.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that out of 314 applications received by the Employment Service Agency in the period ending 30th June 1977, 127 were refused; 125 because the applicants did not qualify for any payment under the formula used for calculating allowances, one because the applicant was able to use public transport and one because the applicant was not employed under special conditions.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further consideration the Employment Services Agency has given to establishing on computer records the experience of methods of employing severely handicapped persons; and if he will make a further statement.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employment Service Agency, which operates the disablement resettlement service, is not currently giving consideration to the possibility of establishing on computer records the experience of methods of employing severely handicapped persons and has no plans to do so.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people applied for a grant under the Employment Services Agency's fares-to work scheme in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 314 people applied for a grant in the 12-month period ending 30th June 1977.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to abolish the condition that a registered disabled person must be employed under special conditions in ordinary employment before he can be assisted by the fares-to-work scheme.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that legislation is unnecessary to abolish the condition. The Employment Service Agency, which operates the fares-to-work scheme, is considering its abolition when the scheme is revised in the near future.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average length of time for which a disabled person receives assistance under the Employment Services Agency's fares-to-work scheme.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that about one-third of the number of disabled people receiving assistance under the ESA fares-to-work schemes are being helped on a temporary basis, often as a result of breakdown of personal transport. The average period of assistance in such cases lasts for about six weeks Of the remaining two-thirds, the average length of time a person is assisted is much longer, estimated at about three and a half years, although this does include one case of assistance extending over the last 15 years, and several others who have been assisted for many years.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assistance is available from the Employment Services Agency to enable unemployed registered disabled people to travel round in search of work.

Mr. John Grant

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employment Service Agency can pay people disabled within the meaning of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 and, as necessary, their escorts the cost of the cheapest appropriate transport when attending for interview with prospective employers provided that the interview was arranged by the jobcentre or employment office, the employer is unwilling to pay and that it would be a hardship for the disabled person to walk.

The Employment Service Agency can, under the job search scheme, provide unemployed workers, or those under threat of redundancy, with free return fares for interviews for jobs beyond daily travelling distance of home, subject to certain eligibility conditions.

There are no provisions other than the above for assisting disabled people with the cost of travel in searching for work on their own initiative.