§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Government are considering abolishing the quota system in Wales for employment of disabled people.
§ Mr. AlisonThe Government are currently considering the Manpower Services Commission's proposal, following its review of the quota scheme, that it be replaced by a statutory duty on employers in respect of the recruitment, retention and career development of disabled people, linked to a code of good practice.
Since this would represent a significant change of approach, compared with existing arrangements, we are giving interested parties until the end of the year to comment before we come to any decisions.