§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what reviews have been carried out by his Department since 1979 of the effectiveness of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 in increasing the number of disabled people in employment; if he has any plans to seek to amend the Act; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeThe programmes which derive from the Act have been kept under internal review.
The effectiveness of the quota scheme was the subject of a Manpower Services Commission-led review and report undertaken in 1979–81. The report of a subsequent Manpower Services Commission-led working group which examined ways of improving the scheme was published in 1985. An important conclusion in that report was that research was needed into the numbers and characteristics of people with disabilities. Arrangements for such research are currently under way.
I have no plans at present to amend the Act.