§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that the 3 per cent. quota system related to the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act is adhered to.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that an annual inquiry is made to find out the number and proportion of registered disabled people employed by employers who are covered by the quota provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, that is, those which are not Crown bodies and employ 20 or more workers. If an employer turns out to have fewer than 3 per cent. registered disabled people in his work force he is reminded of his obligations under the Act. That Act also requires employers within its scope to keep records, which are liable to inspection. The MSC's disablement resettlement officers are able to advise employers about the recruitment and retention of all disabled people, whether registered or not.
The number of registered disabled people is now insufficient to enable each employer subject to quota to have 3 per cent. of such people in his work force, because many people eligible to register as disabled choose not to do so. The majority of such employers would probably reach the 3 per cent. level if all their disabled employees could be included in the count.
The present quota scheme is no longer fully effective as a method of protecting the employment prospects of disabled people generally, and the MSC is reviewing it. I understand that the commission will be submitting recommendations to my right hon. Friend on this complex issue early in the new year. The Government will consider the commission's views very carefully before reaching a conclusion.