HC Deb 21 June 1999 vol 333 c296W
Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for setting a target for employers to take on a specific percentage of disabled employees. [86626]

Ms Hodge

We have no plans to introduce such a target for employers. The 3 per cent. quota scheme, established under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, was appropriate before there was any specific legislation to give disabled people individual rights not be discriminated against in employment. Under Part II of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 disabled people can now seek redress through Employment Tribunals if they believe they have been discriminated against at work.

We are raising awareness of these rights through our current National Disability Campaign, which was launched on 9 June 1999 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. The Campaign aims to encourage more understanding of the barriers and discrimination that disabled people face, highlighting that costs can be low and benefits high when employing disabled people. We believe that these measures, along with the proposed establishment of a Disability Rights Commission, will help improve employment opportunities for disabled people.