§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled working people in(a) London and (b) Lewisham currently benefit from the special aids to employment scheme; and how many disabled working people throughout the country he expects to lose their jobs once employers have to pay 50 per cent. of the cost of special aids in the workplace.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe numbers are:(a) 381; (b) 38. Changes to our current special schemes for helping people with disabilities, including the introduction of an employers' contribution, up to a ceiling to be specified, to help for existing employees who have worked for them for more than six months, are aimed at helping more people 269W with disabilities to get and retain jobs and at making a much wider range of help available. We are currently finalising details of these changes with these aims in mind.