§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers with over 20 workers are not at present 336W employing their quota of 3 per cent. disabled people; and how many of them do not hold Government permits of exemption.
Mr. GrantI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that as at the conclusion of the annual review on 1st June 1977, 31,763 employers were below the 3 per cent. quota, including 10,060 who had not been issued with permits during the previous 12 months.
The issue of a permit does not exempt an employer from the quota obligation under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944. It authorises the employer to engage a person who is not registered as disabled when no suitable registered disabled person is available.