§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what grants or loans are made by his Department, or by any body responsible to his Department, for the construction or conversion of buildings; if he will make the provision of adequate facilities for disabled people a condition for such grants or loans; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it operates a scheme whereby grants of up to £5,000 may be made to employers who make essential adaptations to their premises to enable them to engage or retain specific disabled employees.
NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES UNEMPLOYED FOR THE PERIODS SHOWN Registered disabled people All unemployed Number (1,000s) Per cent. Number {1,000s) Per cent. Up to 2 weeks … … … 2.1 2.7 116.4 7.8 Over 2 and up to 4 weeks … … … 1.6 2.0 82.1 5.5 Over 4 and up to 8 weeks … … … 4.4 5.6 177.8 12.0 Over 8 and up to 13 weeks … … … 5.4 6.8 190.5 12.8 Over 13 and up to 26 weeks … … … 10.4 131 307.2 20.7 Over 26 and up to 52 weeks … … … 12.5 15.8 276.8 18.6 Over 52 weeks … … … 42.7 54.0 333.9 22.5 79.1 1,484.7 Note: The figure of unemployed registered disabled people given in the reply includes 10,950 people in Section II who are considered capable of employment only under sheltered conditions. People in Section II are excluded when taking the general unemployment count.