§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of registered disabled in the unemployment figures; and how this compares with the figure five years ago.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that only registered disabled people in Section 1 of the unemployed register—i.e. those who are capable of open employment as distinct from those in Section II who are considered capable of employment only under sheltered conditions—are included in the general unemployment figures. On 13th October 1977, the latest date on which information is available, Section I of the unemployed register comprised 63,908 registered disabled people who represented 4.4 per cent. of all unemployed people in Great Britain. Comparable figures for October 1972 were 73,588 139W unemployed registered disabled people and 9.3 per cent.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the operating subsidy to all places of sheltered employment and to those run by Remploy, local authorities, and volun-
Remploy Local authorities Voluntary organisations Total £ £ £ £ 1973–74 … … … 6,913,000 2,983,160 2,334,429 12,230,589 1974–75 … … … 9,553,000 4,105,191 3,011,469 16,669,660 1975–76 … … … 15,071,000 5,552,722 3,408,644 24,032,366 1976–77 … … … 16,904,000 * * * 1977–78 (estimate) … … 20,500,000 * * * 1978–79 (estimate). … … 21,225,000 * * * 1979–80 … … … * * * * * Figures for these years are not available. This subsidy is provided entirely by my Department in the case of Remploy Limited. For other workshops it is met partly by my Department and partly by local authorities or voluntary bodies.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to maximise the abilities of employees in sheltered workshops by the provision of modern technology; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employment Service Agency encourages workshops to develop modern processes and techniques, and provides financial support. Final decisions on such changes however, rest with workshop management. A balance is required between increasing capital per employee and maintaining the number of severely disabled people who can be employed.
Remploy Local authorities Voluntary organisations Total £ £ £ £ 1973–74 … … … 684,216 268,573 68,023 1,020,812 1974–75 … … … 1,141,416 281,527 146,400 1,569,343 1975–76 … … … 1,797,358 397,844 189,065 2,384,267 1976–77 … … … 2,386,895 850,728 81,479 3,319,102 1977–78 (estimate) … … 2,010,000 1,017,000 275,000 3,302,000 1978–79 (estimate) … … 2,874,000 1,306,000 743,000 4,923,000 Estimates for 1979–80 are not yet available. Local authorities and voluntary bodies also make contributions to capital expenditure by sheltered workshops, but details are not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if the Manpower Services Commission has concluded its consideration of the specific proposals arising out of its review of the fares to work scheme for disabled people which it was stated in reply to the hon. Member for Eccles on 19th July had been completed; when a decision
140Wtary organisations, respectively, in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, and the estimates for 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantFollowing is the available information:
Discussions are proceeding on proposals to improve workshops' access to public sector work, and to provide support for new types of production that would be involved.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the capital grants to all places of sheltered employment and to those run by Remploy, local authorities, and voluntary organisations, respectively, in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, and the estimates for 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantThe capital grants paid from Government funds to all places of sheltered employment are:
will be reached; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that consideration of specific proposals arising from the review of the fares to work scheme for disabled people is now almost complete. I hope to make a statement 141W about the new improved scheme early in the New Year.