Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what new initiatives he has taken to reduce the number of registered disabled workers who are unemployed.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe Government place great importance on assisting disabled people to obtain suitable employment opportunities. It remains our policy to support the Manpower Services Commission in encouraging and assisting firms to implement constructive policies towards the employment of disabled people. Our continued support for the commission's "Fit for Work" campaign and awards scheme, the first winner of which will be announced in October, reflects our concern.
The commission also provides a range of measures for helping disabled people train for and obtain suitable employment and we have recently approved the establishment of its experimental job introduction scheme on a permanent basis.
We have also sought the advice of the commission and the National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People on regulations, to be laid before Parliament shortly, to be made under the Companies Act 1980, requiring the disclosure of policies for the employment of disabled people in directors' reports.