§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met representatives of Horticultural Therapy to discuss its role in the development of training and employment for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonI have never met representatives from Horticultural Therapy. I understand that Horticultural Therapy is an organisation which assists people, including people with physical disabilities, mental handicaps and mental illness, to gain therapeutic benefit from horticulture. Therapeutic rehabilitation could be a factor in improving the chances of people with disabilities being able to gain and retain employment and develop in it. My Department provides considerable assistance to people with disabilities through training, rehabilitation and employment schemes and services to help them realise their full potential in work, including some support through horticultural work.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to provide financial support to Horticultural Therapy to enable it to develop therapeutic, leisure, training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and mental health problems throughout the United Kingdom.
Mr. JacksonI understand that Horticultural Therapy currently receives grants from the Department of Health and the Home Office. It would be a matter for Horticultural Therapy to consider whether it wished to put appropriate proposals for which it is seeking financial support to relevant Government Departments for consideration, including to local officials in the Employment Service or to training and enterprise councils or local enterprise companies.