§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled people have complained of dismissal contrary to section 9(5) of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 since 1981; how many of these cases were referred to the committees for the employment of people with disabilities; how many of these cases were then referred by those committees to him with a recommendation for action; and of these referrals, in how many cases was action taken by him.
Mr. JacksonThe employment service's local disablement resettlement officers (DROs) receive a small number of complaints each year from registered disabled people who think that their dismissal may have been contrary to section 9(5) of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944. However, the precise number of complaints made since 1981 is not known. All complaints are investigated by my officials.
On three occasions since 1981 dismissals of registered disabled people, by employers not employing the 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people, have been referred to the local committee for the employment of people with disabilities for a report.
The 1944 Act does not require the committees to make recommendations in their reports to Ministers. Their reports are made in confidence for the use by Ministers in coming to a decision on appropriate action in each case.
There have been no prosecutions of employers in this period.