§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce the numbers of school leavers who are currently unemployed.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 23 June 1980, c. 35]: The Government have agreed to a proposal from the Manpower Services Commission to expand the youth opportunities programme by 25 per cent. in 1980–81; this expansion has enabled the MSC to renew the undertakings to unemployed school leavers and the long-term unemployed that they will be offered places in the programmes. Community industry is also available to help young people with particular diffi
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§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 23 June 1980, c. 30]: The information requested is not available. Neither the Employment Protection Act 1975, nor the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 requires employers to make my Department aware that disabled people are about to be made redundant. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it would in any case be difficult for employers—particularly large ones—to be certain which of their employees were disabled, because many disabled people choose not to register as such, and even registered disabled people are not required to disclose their status to their employer.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers and percentages of unemployed male and female registered disabled persons in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 23 June 1980, c. 30]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information requested is set out below. Figures are for 8 May 1980, the latest date available.
culties. Both programmes will continue to help unemployed school leavers.