Visually Handicapped and Disabled (Employment) (Hansard, 19 October 1981)

§ Mr. Alexander Fletcher:

Mr. Thomas Watson, Scottish area secretary of the National League of the Blind and Disabled, wrote to my right hon. Friend on 12 August to suggest that careers officers and disablement resettlement officers might co-operate in setting up special day centers to provide further education and training for young disabled people who are unable to find a job.

I consulted the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the disablement resettlement service, about this suggestion and, after careful consideration, the following reply was sent by my private secretary to Mr. Watson on 25 September: The Government are of course very much aware of the problems which disabled young people encounter when they are seeking employment, but believe that the needs and aspirations of such young people can best be met through the Youth Opportunities Programme (YOP) rather than by the establishment of special centers. YOP provides a range of work experience and training courses—many of which are similar to the activities which you suggest—suited to the abilities of all young people, including those who are disabled but fit for employment. Careers Officers and Disablement Resettlement Officers work closely with the Manpower Services Commission's Special Programmes Division to ensure that suitable opportunities are provided for disabled young people. A number of YOP schemes have been designed to cater for their particular needs but many more disabled young people are taking part in ordinary schemes. In recognition of their special needs, however, they are exempt from the 6–week "waiting period"which applies to other young people, and they may if necessary stay on the Programme for longer than the usual 12 months. The Government have given a commitment to find a suitable place on the Programme for all unemployed school leavers by Christmas and, to ensure that this commitment is met not only for this year but also for next, they have recently announced that additional resources will be made available. The Day centers to which you refer provide facilities for the more severely handicapped who are unable to work even under 59W sheltered conditions. The provision of Day center places is the responsibility of individual local authorities; the number of places in local authority Day centers for the physically handicapped has been increasing steadily in recent years.