§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage 191W of staff employed by the area health authorities is disabled; and if he is satisfied that sufficient is being done to employ disabled people in this field.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe latest figures published by the Department of Employment show that 0.8 per cent. of the total work force in the National Health Service were registered disabled. Figures for June of this year are due to be published on 1st December. While a recent pilot study that I commissioned in Derbyshire shows that the area health authority employed about twice as many unregistered disabled people as registered, I am far from satisfied with the general position. I am writing to all health authority chairmen to say so and to seek their help in improving
Year Population of Great Britain Claimants Dependants Claimants and dependants Thousands (d) as a percentage of (a) (a) (b) (c) (d) 1974 … … … … 54,376 2,680 1,412 4,092 7.5 1975 … … … … 54,363 2,793 1,641 4,434 8.2 1976 … … … … 54,348 2,940 1,785 4,725 8.7 1977 … … … … 54,315 2,991 1,767 4,759 8.8 Note: Due to a slightly different sampling method an exact comparison cannot be made between the figures for 1977 and those for earlier years.