§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average length of time an unemployed registered disabled person has been out of work; by how much this figure is greater than the average for all unemployed persons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Commission that information is not available in the form requested. However, the following table is supplied for comparison purposes. The information relates to 12th January 1978 the latest date on which figures for registered disabled people are available.
Any assessment of these figures should recognise that the total of unemployed registered disabled people includes 50 per cent. who are aged 50 years and over compared with 22 per cent. among all unemployed people in Great Britain. Registered disabled people in this age group comprised 58 per cent. of those unemployed over 52 weeks.
The MSC is very concerned to reduce unemployment among disabled people, including long-term unemployment. This is the aim of the measures previously announced by the MSC and the reason for the publication in February of the MSC's programme for developing employment and training services for disabled people over the next five to 10 years. To this end the Commission is also carrying out a long-term campaign encouraging employers to promote the development of good practice on the employment of disabled people and to extend the number and range of jobs available for them.