HC Deb 15 November 1979 vol 973 cc731-2W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to the review of "Disabled People and their Employment" undertaken for the Association of Disabled Professionals by Melvyn Kettle: what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jim Lester

I shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to the review of "Employment of the Disabled" published by the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jim Lester

The document "Employment of the Disabled", published by the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association, is in response to the discussion document "The Quota Scheme for the Employment of Disabled People" published by the Manpower Services Commission—MSC—and to the consultation paper issued by the working party on the future role of disablement advisory committees set up by the National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People—NACEDP.

Full account of all responses will be taken in the coming months by the MSC and by NACEDP.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will classify according to percentages the number of workers employed in (a) unskilled manual work, (b) semi-skilled manual work, (c) skilled manual work, (d) clerical work, (e) managerial and supervisory work; and if he will also classify the numbers of disabled workers along the same lines.

Mr. Jim Lester

[pursuant to his reply, 9 November 1979, c. 256–57]: It is estimated that in Great Britain in 1978 the distribution of workers—employed and self-employed—by socioeconomic group was as follows:

Socio-Economic Group1 Per cent.
Unskilled manual workers 6
Semi-skilled manual and personal service workers 20
Skilled manual and own account non-professional workers 27
Intermediate and Junior non-manual Workers2 31
Professional workers, employers and Managers 16
All workers 100
1 Excludes armed forces.
2 Most clerical workers will be included in this group.

Comparable information for disabled workers is not available.