§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many payments have been made under the Manpower Services Commission's scheme of capital grants to employers of disabled people; what has been the total expenditure to date; and if he will make a statement 152W about the operation and effectiveness of the scheme.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are no readily available figures of payments made to date, but authority has been given for 14 adaptations to premises or equipment at a total cost of £7,224. The scheme provides for grants of up to £5,000 to employers who make essential adaptations to their premises or equipment to enable them to engage or retain specific disabled employees. It is considered too early to evaluate the effectiveness of the scheme, but I am not satisfied with the level of take-up so far.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment on behalf of how many registered disabled people the £30 job introduction allowance has been paid since it was introduced; how much money has been paid out; and if he will make a further statement on the operation and effectiveness of the scheme.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 166 disabled people have been helped by the job introduction scheme by the end of December, resulting in a payment of £11,610 to date. The scheme is operated by the Employment Service Agency's disablement resettlement officers who can offer a contribution of £30 a week for a six-week period to an employer who has reasonable doubts about engaging a disabled worker whom the disablement resettlement officer considers to be prima facie suitable for the vacancy. It is open to all disabled people, whether registered or not, who have been unemployed for six months.
An evaluation of the effectiveness of the scheme is now being undertaken.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment when the Manpower Services Commission expects to publish its development programme for its employment and training services for disabled people over the next five to 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that its development programme of employment and training services for disabled people, which sets out the Commission's plans for improving and extending those 153W services over the next five to 10 years, will be published next month. It will be available in an abbreviated, as well as a full, version. I shall make a statement when the programme is published.
§ Mr. Cowansasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the figures to the latest convenient date of the number of disabled people registered as unemployed in the Newcastle upon Tyne Employment Office area; and how these compare with the levels for 1974 to 1977 inclusive;
(2) if he will give the figures to the latest convenient date of the number of people registered as unemployed under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act in the Newcastle upon Tyne employment office area; and how these compare with the levels for 1974 to 1977 inclusive.
§ Mr. John Grant,pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1977, Vol. 942, c. 39.]—gave the following information:
I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as shown below. The figures include disabled young people who are registered for work with the Newcastle upon Tyne careers office.
All unemployed disabled people registered and unregistered (1) Registered disabled people unemployed (included in Col. (1)) (2) November 1974* — 387 December 1975 — 418 October 1976* — 359 April 1977 1,233 411 December 1977 1,220 385 April 1977 is the earliest date for which figures are available of unregistered disabled people who were unemployed. *Owing to industrial action at Local offices of the ESA figures for December in these years are not available.