§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from voluntary organisations and individuals regarding changes to the quota scheme for the employment of disabled people proposed in the document "Manpower Services Commission Review of the Quota Scheme for the Employment of Disabled People—A Report"; whether the representations show a favourable response to the changes suggested; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonI have so far received a number of comments from both organisations and individuals. Interested parties have until the end of the year to comment and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what time limit has been imposed for representations on the changes to the quota scheme for the employment of disabled people suggested in the document "Manpower Services Commission Review of the Quota Scheme for the Employment of Disabled People—A Report"; what action his Department is taking to advertise and encourage such representation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonAs my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Employment told the House on 23 July, we are giving interested parties until the end of the year to comment on the proposals in the Manpower Services Commission's report on its review of the quota scheme, which was published on that day. That statement was also the subject of a press notice issued by my Department and was widely reported.
On publication, the Manpower Services Commission sent some 3,000 copies of its report to interested parties, including voluntary organisations representing the disabled, and employers organisations. Since then Commission officials have taken every opportunity at conferences and seminars on the employment of disabled people to say that comments on the report are invited by the end of the year, and a further 10,000 copies of the report have been sent out in response to requests, each with a note indicating that the Government had asked for comments by the end of the year.