§ 26. Mr. Amessasked the Paymaster General how many disabled people are currently registered as unemployed in Basildon; and what encouragement his Department is giving to find them jobs.
§ Mr. LangOn 4 April 1986, there were 269 unemployed disabled persons registered at Basildon jobcentre. Disabled jobseekers are encouraged to make full use of the services available to all jobseekers at jobcentres. In addition, a wide range of special help—including guidance from a specialist disablement resettlement officer—is available to assist with the particular problems which disabled people may face in getting and keeping employment.
Disabled people will, from July 1986, also be helped under the restart programme through which all those who have been unemployed for a year or more will be invited to an interview at a jobcentre and offered positive help towards finding work.
Disablement advisory service teams provide employers with advice and guidance on progressive employment policies and practices in the recruitment, retention, training and promotion of disabled people, and remind them of their obligations under the quota scheme which places a duty on those with 20 or more workers to employ a 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people.
A new leaflet, "Action for Jobs", which contains details of the help available through my Department to unemployed people, including those who are disabled, is freely available through jobcentres, unemployment benefit offices and main post offices.