§ Mr. Geraint Morganasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the proportion of disabled persons employed by nationalised industries in the United Kingdom;
(2) whether he will take steps to ensure that statistics are readily available to the public of disabled persons employed by (a) Government Departments and (b) nationalised industries.
§ Mr. John GrantStatistics of registered disabled people employed in Government Departments and nationalised industries were published in the November issue of theDepartment of Employment Gazette. The Gazette article gives information about the percentage of registered disabled people employed by nationalised industries in Great Britain and explains the factors to be borne in mind when considering the figures. The situation in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Copies of the Gazette are available in the Library of the House. They can be obtained by the public from bookshops of Her Majesty's Stationery Office or through booksellers; and may be seen at main public libraries.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people registered as disabled with respect to employment were enrolled with professional and executive recruitment on 21st December 1976; what percentage that number was of the total number of enrolled persons; for any last convenient period how many enrolled disabled people have secured employment through professional and executive recruitment; and what percentage this represented of the total number of people who secured employment through professional and executive recruitment during the same period.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the total number of people enrolled with Professional and Executive Recruitment on 21st December 1976 was 108,769.
517WNo separate count of disabled people was made on that date, but on 28th February 1977 391 registered disabled people were enrolled with Professional and Executive Recruitment, approximately 0.3 per cent. of the total register.
On enrolment, candidates who indicate in reply to a specific question on the application form that they are disabled are offered an interview with a disablement resettlement officer and the possible advantages of re-training and special aids are brought to their attention where appropriate. All disabled people are given a unique coding on Professional and Executive Recruitment's computerised matching system which ensures that disabled candidates are automatically included in the field of suitable candidates for individual vacancies.
No separate placing statistics of the number of disabled people are currently maintained but the production of Professional and Executive Recruitment's statistics including those related to registered disabled people is, however, currently under review.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the delays which take place in his Department in providing page turners for disabled persons who require such equipment in order to earn a living; if he will fully investigate these matters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, according to its records, only one such request has ever been received. This was received on Thursday 3rd March 1977 and is still under consideration. If the applicant is elegible for assistance under the Employment Service Agency's special aids to employment scheme a page turner will be supplied as quickly as possible. A standard stock item could be supplied within two weeks. I have no plans to investigate this matter further.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment how long it takes for Possum type equipment to be supplied by his Department after it has been recommended by disablement resettlement officers; what delay takes place between the application by disabled persons for such equipment before 518W they are visited by a disablement resettlement officer; how long it takes his Department to make a decision on this matter; how long it takes for equipment to be supplied then; if he will fully investigate this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the length of time it takes for Possum type equipment to be supplied after it has been recommended by the DRO depends on individual circumstances, but the DRO usually visits an applicant within a few days of the application being received. The average time between the application being received and the equipment being ordered is nearly four months because of the need for a specialist assessment of each individual's requirements and a quotation from the manufacturer. Basic equipment is often delivered within one month of the order being placed but some of the more sophisticated equipment takes much longer. One particularly complex piece of equipment has been on order since February 1974, but as this was a special development project some delay was unavoidable. I am satisfied that the Employment Service Agency has done everything possible to minimise delays, and I have no plans to investigate this matter further.