HC Deb 05 December 1994 vol 251 cc50-1W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years.

Mr. Lang

The numbers and percentages of registered disabled people employed in my Department and associated agencies over the past five years are set out in the table:

Registered disabled staff employed in the Scottish Office, its executive agencies—Scottish Prison Service shown separately—and the associated departments of general register office and Scottish record office
Year SO+ SPS GRO SRO
1990
—Number of registered disabled staff 73 5 7 2
—percentage of all staff 1.2 0.1 2.3 1.8
1991
—Number of registered disabled staff 66 5 2 5
—percentage of all staff 1.1 0.1 0.6 4.2
1992
—Number of registered disabled staff 86 5 6 2
—percentage of all staff 1.4 0.1 2.1 1.8
1993
—Number of registered disabled staff 81 3 5 1
—percentage of all staff 1.3 0.1 1.8 0.9
1994
—Number of registered disabled staff 79 2 3 2
—percentage of all staff 1.3 0.05 1.2 1.6

Note:

Position as at 1 June for 1990 and 1991; 1 July thereafter.

Projected figures of the next five years are not available.

My Department recently undertook a detailed survey of disability and long-term health conditions in the workplace. The survey revealed that 97 staff felt they were affected "a great deal" and a further 300 "to some extent" by a disability or long-term health condition in the workplace. This represents a total of 397 or 5.3 per cent. of all staff in the Scottish Office, its agencies and associated departments.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated agencies for each of the next five years for, and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objectives of, the programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity in the civil service for disabled people.

Mr. Lang

Within the Scottish Office, its executive agencies and associated departments, expenditure in support of the programme of action to achieve equality of opportunity in the civil service for disabled people includes expenditure associated with policy development and implementation, recruitment, training, assessments, special equipment, modification of buildings and accommodation. A separate budget cannot be disaggregated.

The number of staff or staff hours equivalent allocated to achieving the objectives of the programme of action similarly cannot be calculated separately. Successful implementation requires the commitment and involvement of not only disabled persons officers and equal opportunities officers but personnel officers, recruitment and training officers as well as line managers throughout the organisation.

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