§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the employees of his Department are registered disabled people; and if he will take steps to increase this proportion at least to the 3 per cent. quota level of the Disabled Persons Employment Act 1944.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe proportion of registered disabled staff currently employed in the Home Office is 0.48 per cent. Wherever appropriate, applications to fill vacancies in the Department are particularly invited from registered disabled persons. But there are difficulties in a number of areas, and principally with the prison officer class, comprising over 52 per cent. of all Home Office employees, where the nature of the duties requires high standards of health and physical ability.