§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the results of his consideration of ideas raised at the seminar on the disabled worker in May 1976.
§ Mr. John GrantMy hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for the disabled and I found the seminar an extremely useful exchange of views. It was concerned both with cash benefits and the provision of services for disabled workers. Cash benefits are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. As far as the 27W provision of services is concerned, both the Manpower Services Commission and I have been conscious of the views expressed at the seminar in developing our policies over the last year. Important developments since the seminar include provision of an experimental job introduction scheme, a scheme of capital grants to employers for adaptations to premises and equipment, and the preparation by the Manpower Services Commission of a development programme of its employment and training services for disabled people which will be published early next year.