§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give reasons for not publishing returns of the numbers of employed and unemployed disabled persons in the most recent issues of the Employment Gazette; and whether this suspension of publication is to be permanent.
§ Mr. AlisonSince November last year, when registration at jobcentres ceased to be compulsory for unemployment benefit claimants, unemployment statistics have been compiled on a new basis from the records held at unemployment benefit offices. These figures do not allow for the separate identification of disabled claimants.
The old monthly statistical series on the numbers of unemployed disabled people published in the Employment Gazette has therefore been discontinued.
However, as the article on the new statistics in the September issue of the Employment Gazette made clear, figures on the numbers and characteristics of unemployed disabled people will continue to be collected at jobcentres, though they will of course be limited to those who choose to register for employment. These figures will be supplemented by data from sample surveys designed to cover all unemployed disabled people.
Consideration is being given to what information should be published in the Employment Gazette in future about unemployed disabled people.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed disabled people there were in December 1982 and January 1983 in the following categories (a) registered and unregistered disabled, males and females and (b) registered and unregistered males and females.
§ Mr. AlisonFigures relating to those unemployed disabled people who choose to register for work with the Manpower Services Commission's jobcentres and local authority careers offices are as follows. Separate figures for males and females are not available. Registration for employment at jobcentres became voluntary in October 1982 and these figures therefore include only those unemployed disabled people who chose so to register.
(a) Unemployed disabled people suitable for open employment Registered Unregistered Total December 1982 68,119 115,206 183,325 January 1983 66,799 111,929 178,728 108W
(b) Unemployed disabled people suitable for sheltered employment Registered Unregistered Total December 1982 7,246 4,325 11,571 January 1983 7,165 4,221 11,386
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the numbers of disabled people, male and female, placed in employment between October 1982 and January 1983.
§ Mr. Alison7,284 disabled people were placed in employment by the Manpower Services Commission's disablement resettlement officer service between 9 October 1982 and 7 January 1983. A number of disabled people are also placed through the jobcentre self-service facilities but precise figures are not available. Placings of males and females cannot be identified.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many persons, and what percentage of the work force, were on the disabled employment register at the latest available date and on dates one and two years previously; and, on those dates, what was the level of the total United Kingdom work force;
(2) if he will publish for the latest available date and the previous two years the average level of compliance with the quota for the employment of disabled persons by (a) all employers, (b) the public sector and (c) the private sector;
(3) how many prosecutions have been brought over the period 1980–81 and 1981–82 against employers who failed to fulfil the statutory 3 per cent. quota of disabled people;
(4) how many and what percentage of people registered under section 2 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 have been unemployed for (a) up to two weeks, (b) over two and up to four weeks, (c) over four and up to six weeks, (d) over six and up to eight weeks, (e) over eight and up to 13 weeks, (f) over 13 and up to 26 weeks, (g) over 26 and up to 52 weeks and (h) over 52 weeks;
(5) what, for each of the last two years to the latest available date, have been the percentage increases in unemployment for (a) the registered disabled and (b) the unregistered disabled;
(6) for the latest available date how many (a) registered disabled people and (b) people from the total United Kingdom work force had been unemployed for (a) up to two weeks, (b) over two and up to four weeks, (c) over four and up to six weeks, (d) over six and up to eight weeks, (e) over eight and up to 13 weeks, (f) over 13 and up to 26 weeks, (g) over 26 and up to 52 weeks and (h) over 52 weeks; and what percentage of the work force in each group each figure represents;
(7) how many persons in Great Britain were (a) registered unemployed (b) registered disabled unemployed and (c) unregistered disabled unemployed at the latest available date and in each of the previous two years; and what percentage of the total work force in each group each figure represents.
§ Mr. AlisonI shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment how much was spent on campaigns to promote the employment of disabled people in each year since 1978–79, at 1978–79 prices.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 14 February 1983, c. 47]: Prior to 1979–80, when the fit for work campaign was launched, no separate records of expenditure on campaigns to promote the employment of disabled people were kept.
109WFor 1979–80 onwards expenditure—excluding staff costs—at 1979–80 prices was as follows:
£ 1979–80 491,214 1980–81 248,204 1981–82 250,382
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of unemployed people with a disability at the latest date for which figures are available and at the same date in each of the preceding five years; and how this estimate was reached.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 14 February 1983, c. 49]: The numbers of disabled people unemployed at January 1983, the latest date available, and for the same month in the preceding five years are as follows. The figures were obtained from statistical returns of disabled people who were registered for employment with the Manpower Services Commission's jobcentres.
Registration for employment at jobcentres became voluntary in October 1982 and the figure for January 1983 therefore includes only those unemployed disabled people who choose so to register. That figure is therefore not comparable with figures for earlier years. More comprehensive information about unemployed disabled people is to be collected periodically by sample surveys.
No. 1983 190,114 1982 193,664 1981 170,662 1980 137,063 1979 139,745 1978 148,688
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of registered disabled people unemployed for over one year and (a) available for open employment and (b) requiring sheltered employment at the latest date for which figures are available and at the same date in each of the five preceding years.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 14 February 1983, c. 49]: The information requested is as follows. The figures relate to October of each year from 1980, and to July of each year prior to 1980.
Registered disabled people unemployed for over one year Available for open employment Requiring sheltered employment Total 1982 40,462 5,910 46,372 1981 35,554 6,074 41,628 1980 26,944 5,604 32,548 1979 29,003 6,526 35,529 1978 30,952 7,446 38,398 1977 33,229 8,416 41,645
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the percentage of all unemployed people represented by (a) the number of registered disabled people unemployed and available for open employment and (b) the number of registered disabled people unemployed and requiring sheltered employment at the latest date for which figures are available and at the same date in each of the preceding five years.
110W
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 14 February 1983, c. 49]: The information requested is as follows. Figures are for October of each year, because October 1982 is the latest date for which these percentages can be produced. Registration for employment at jobcentres became voluntary in October 1982 and figures for disabled people so registered in later months are therefore not comparable with the figures for all unemployed people, which are now based on claims for benefit.
Unemployed registered disabled people as a percentage of all unemployed people Available for open employment Per cent. Requiring sheltered employment Per cent. 1982 2.2 0.2 1981 2.4 0.3 1980 2.9 0.4 1979 3.9 0.6 1978 4.2 0.7 1977 4.4 0.7 Figures showing the percentages of the total of both registered and unregistered unemployed disabled people are as follows:
Unemployed registered and unregistered disabled people as a percentage of all unemployed people Available for open employment Per cent. Requiring sheltered employment Per cent. 1983 5.7 0.4 1982 6.1 0.4 1981 6.8 0.5 1980 8.9 0.8 1979 9.1 0.9 1978 9.0 1.0 The figures for total unemployment used in the percentages are on the old, registration basis.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the organisations invited to comment on the Manpower Services Commission's "Review of Assistance for Disabled People"; what is the period for consultation; when he expects the final decision to be made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 14 February 1.983, c. 50]: The Manpower Services Commission sent copies of its "Review of Assistance to Disabled People" to the following organisations listed on 22 November inviting comments:
- National League of Blind Disabled
- National Association for Mental Health
- Chest and Heart Association
- The Haemophilia Society
- Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
- British Limbless Ex Service-men's Association
- Disablement Income Group
- Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation
- Royal National Institute for the Deaf
- Disabled Living Foundation
- British Rheumatism and Arthritis Association
- British Polio Fellowship
- Spastics Society
- National Bureau for Handicapped Students
- International Bureau for Epilepsy
- Spinal Injuries Association
- Mental Health Trust and Research Fund
- TUC
- Association of Disabled Professionals
111 - Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Royal National Institute for the Blind
- Thalidomide Society
- National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases
- PERA
- Association for Independent Disabled Self Sufficiency
- Cinexsa Films
- Disablement in the City
- Greater London Association for the Disabled
- Scottish Epilepsy Association
- British Epilepsy Association
- Hilary Schlessinger Lambeth Borough
- National Association of Industries for the Blind and Disabled
- Remploy Limited
- University of Dundee
- British Association of the Hard of Hearing
- British Deaf Association
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust
- Friedraich's Ataxia Group
- Multiple Sclerosis Society of GB and N Ireland.
- Muscular Dystrophy Group of GB
- National Association for Deaf Blind and Rubella Handicapped
- Royal London Society for the Blind
- Scottish Council for the Care of Spastics
- Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Edinburgh
- Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations
- National Federation of the Blind of the UK
- Disability Alliance
- Royal British Legion
- Disabled Work Force
- Confederation of British Industry
- Association of County Councils
- Centre National de Sociologic du droit Social, Brussels
- British Diabetics Association
- British Inśtitute of Mental Handicap
- Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for the Disabled
- DHSS
- Committee on Employment of Disabled People
- District Manpower Committees
- Select Committee for Employment
- All Party Disablement Group
- Partially Sighted Society
- Parkinson's Disease Society of UK
- Royal Association in Aid of Deaf and Dumb
- Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind
- National Rehabilitation Board (Eire)
- Department of Manpower Services (Belfast)
A press notice together with a summary of the report was issued the next day.
No specific time limit was set for comments. The commission made it clear that while it endorsed the report as a broad basis for future action, the implementation of its recommendations would be subject to such modifications as might seem desirable in the light of the views expressed by interested organisations. The commission plans to start the progressive implementation of the main managerial and operational changes in some areas in April this year.