§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what study her Department has done into the effects of ankylosing spondylitis on the body of sufferers to both work and availability for work as far as unemployment benefits are concerned; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Department has not carried out a study into the effects of ankylosing spondylitis or any other specific illness.
The Employment Service can offer specialist advice to any unemployed person with a disability or long-term health problem who needs guidance in obtaining work. In providing advice, the Employment Service's general 427W approach is to treat each person as an individual and not to be unnecessarily restrictive. We believe that people with disabilities should be considered fit for work across the full range of occupations unless there are very clear reasons otherwise. If the needs of the individual make it necessary, the ES can provide practical help and has access to other specialists who can assist with particular problems which might arise from specific disabilities.
Physical or mental disability may force some unemployed people to impose restrictions on the work they can accept. If these restrictions are reasonable in the circumstances, and provided the person is available to do some work on each day that benefit is paid, the rules state that benefit is allowed.