HC Deb 22 October 1992 vol 212 c359W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current percentage of disabled people in employment.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Figures covering all disabled people are not readily available; however, we do have information for disabled people of working age.

Research commissioned by the Department and published in 1990 found that 78 per cent. of people in Great Britain who were occupationally handicapped, economically active and of working age, were in work.

The labour force survey for the spring quarter of 1992 found that 80 per cent. of people in Great Britain who had a health problem or disability which limited the kind of work they could do, were economically active and were of working age, were in work.

Direct comparison between these findings is difficult, because they do not always use the same definitions, in particular the definition of disablility.