§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons are unemployed in the Mid-Northumberland local employment area; and what measures he is taking to reduce this number.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that on 8th December 1977, the latest date for which figures are available, 255 disabled people were unemployed in the local employment office areas of Ashington, Bedlington and Morpeth. As stated in my reply of 22nd November 1977 to my hon. Friend the member for Blaydon (Mr. Woof)—[Vol. 939, c.725–6]—the Government are concerned about the level of unemployment generally among disabled people, but a number of measures have been taken, including the provision 376W of an experimental job introduction scheme, a scheme of capital grants to employers for adaptations to premises and equipment, and the launch of "Positive Policies", a guide to employing disabled people. Disabled people in the Mid-Northumberland local employment area, as in other parts of the country, should benefit from these measures.