§ 33. Dr. PalmerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what support and advice is given by new deal advisers to disabled people seeking employment. [75608]
§ Ms HodgePeople with disabilities who are eligible for New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds and those over the age of 25 receive the same range of support as other participants in these age groups. Those who would benefit from more specialist help and advice receive support from an Employment Service Disability Employment Adviser, who can offer access to the full range of disability programmes. In addition, New Deal for Disabled People756W offers those claiming Incapacity Benefit a client-focused service based on individual requirements and access to an extensive range of specialist disabled programmes.
The latest Government Statistical Service figures to the end of December 1998 show that 13 per cent. of those who joined New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds and 19 per cent. of those who joined the New Deal for the 25-plus age group are recorded by the Employment Service as having a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.