§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements are in place to monitor the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944; how many complaints there have been in each year since 1985 alleging contravention of section 9(5) of the Act; how many of these have led to prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe provisions of the 1944 Act are monitored in a number of ways:
- (i) by a rolling programme of inspections of employers quota records;
- (ii) by undertaking an annual postal survey into the quota position of employers;
- (iii) by reminding employers of their duties and obligations;
- (iv) by maintaining records locally of employers who are subject to quota and of their quota positions;
- (v) as part of the work helping people with disabilities find suitable employment and by promoting the employment of disabled people generally.
The employment service receives a small number of complaints each year from registered disabled people who consider that their dismissal contravenes section 9(5) of the 1944 Act. Precise figures are not available. All complaints are investigated and, in the period since 1985, none have led to the prosecution of an employer.
The employment service continues to administer the quota scheme in accordance with legal requirements. It is generally accepted that the scheme is not working as originally intended and we are keeping the position under review.