HC Deb 02 February 1988 vol 126 cc563-4W
Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the number of(a) profoundly deaf and (b) hard of hearing people in (i) full-time employment and (ii) part.time employment in England and Wales for each of the last five years.

Mr. Lee

I regret this information is not available.

Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to monitor the progress of deaf and hearing-impaired people in employment.

Mr. Lee

I have no plans at present to monitor any groups of people with disabilities who are in employment.

Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has any plans to collect more comprehensive statistics on the employment of deaf and hearing-impaired people.

Mr. Lee

I expect to receive shortly final proposals for research into the numbers and characteristics of people with disabilities in the labour force. The precise breakdown of disabilities to be used in this research is yet to be established, but I will keep in mind the need for information about people who are deaf and hearing impaired as will also be done for people with all types of disability. My Department has no plans at present to collect regular statistics of this kind.

Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to update the Manpower Services Commission's booklet "Code of Good Practice on Employment of Disabled People" to include more details on deafness and hearing impairment.

Mr. Lee

The code of good practice on the employment of disabled people will be reviewed in the light of the results of current research into employers' attitudes towards the quota scheme and the impact of the code. I will bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion.

Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) deaf and (b) hearingimpaired people are employed in his Department; and what percentage this represents of all employees in his Department.

M. Lee

This answer can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many deaf people currently registered unemployed have been unemployed for more than(a) three months, (b) six months, (c) one year and (d) three years.

Mr. Lee

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of deaf people who are unemployed by region.

Mr. Lee

I regret that this information is not available.