§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Manpower Services Commission has examined blind homeworkers schemes; who is giving evidence to the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Disabled People working party; when the report is expected; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThe blind homeworkers schemes are currently being examined by a working party established by the National Advisory Council for the Employment of Disabled People. The working party's terms of reference cover the provision of homeworking facilities for severely disabled people generally and are not limited to schemes for blind workers.
The working party has met twice and heard evidence from the MSC and Remploy Ltd. Invitations to give evidence have been sent to 19 other bodies who are directly involved in the existing schemes or known to have an interest, and a press notice has been issued inviting any other interested persons or bodies to make their views known to the working party. It is expected that the working party will report to the National Advisory Council about the middle of 1982.