§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received any further reports from working parties or departmental committees on the administration of workshops for the blind since 1962; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingNo specific reports on the administration of workshops for blind people have been received since the 835W Stewart Working Party presented its report in 1962, but the Department of Employment and, latterly, the Manpower Services Commission, have kept the operation of the workshops under constant review. The discussions following the publication in 1973 of the Department of Employment's consultative document on sheltered employment covered the operation of all sheltered workshops, including those for blind people. The Manpower Services Commission, which assumed responsibility for sheltered employment in 1976, has produced plans for developing employment and training services for disabled people and these include proposals to improve the provision of sheltered employment.