§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the enforcement of the provisions of the disabled persons employment Acts; and what steps have been taken to encourage firms to employ disabled persons.
§ Mr. RossiI am generally satisfied with the enforcement of the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts (Northern Ireland) 1945 and 1960.
The Government, through the Department of Manpower Services, seeks to encourage the employment of disabled persons by way of a number of grant 382W schemes and services to the disabled and employers. The services of the specialist disablement resettlement officers, blind persons resettlement officer and the disabled young persons officers are freely available and grants may be paid to an employer who provides a job trial for a disabled person or who is prepared to adapt machinery and equipment to assist disabled people to obtain or retain employment. Assistance with the cost of fares to and from work is available to certain severely disabled workers. Grants for training in Northern Ireland and Great Britain are also available. Additionally, on 14 April 1980 I launched a " Fit for Work " Campaign sponsored by the Department of Manpower Services which includes touring exhibitions, special presentations to employers and a " Fit for Work " award scheme aimed at encouraging employers to provide more job opportunities for the disabled.
§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many registered disabled persons are employed in each department under his responsibility in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. AlisonThere are 260 registered disabled people employed in the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office. The allocation between individual Departments is as follows:
Department of Agriculture 19 Department of Commerce 8 Department of the Civil Service 5 Department of Education 13 Department of the Environment 49 Department of Finance 53 Department of Health and Social Services 79 Department of Manpower Services 26 Northern Ireland Office 8