§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people have been assisted by the business on own account scheme for each year since it began; and what has been the average value of the grant.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information requested is not readily available before 1969 and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.
The number of disabled people helped under the business on own account scheme each year and the average amount of assistance given since 1969 is set out in the table below and relates to the financial years ending 31 March.
422W
Year disabled people Average assisted grant £ 1969–70 6 111 1970–71 5 325 1971–72 6 186 1972–73 9 89 1973–74 7 211 1974–75 11 363 1975–76 20 533 1976–77 10 515 1977–78 15 695 1978–79 20 628 1979–80 7 1,160
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what alternative employment schemes to the special temporary employment programme are now available to assist disabled people; how many registered disabled people have found employment through these schemes; and how many disabled school leavers have found employment through these schemes;
(2) how many registered disabled people have found employment through the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled people have been provided with employment under the special temporary employment programme since it began.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 1,296 registered disabled persons are known to have been provided with employment under the special temporary employment programme. This represents 4.6 per cent. of all participants in the programme.
§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the disappointing take-up by employers of grants for adaptations and aids for disabled workers, what incentives he will give to encourage employers to install electronic aids, as happens in the United States of America, so that disabled workers can benefit from advances in technology through more jobs and greater opportunities for promotion.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.