§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current numbers of registered disabled persons who are unemployed in Scotland; and what steps he has taken to create employment prospects for them.
§ Mr. Gregor MacKenzieOn 8 March 1979, 5,954 registered disabled people were registered as unemployed in Scotland.
158WThe Manpower Services Commission's positive policies campaign seeks to encourage employers to recruit disabled people and to make the most of the abilities of existing disabled employees. Schemes to provide assistance include the fares-to-work scheme, special aids to employment, grants for the adaptation of premises and equipment and the job introduction scheme. The extension, from 1 May 1979, of the job release scheme to disabled men aged about 60 should provide greater scope for disablement resettlement officers to find places for the disabled.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the sum being paid out weekly in Scotland to assist disabled persons with fares to and from work.
§ Mr. Gregor MacKenzieI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are 24 currently authorised cases for assistance in Scotland under its fares-to-work scheme for severely disabled people and the average weekly payment is £8.13.