§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people suffering from dyslexia are currently receiving(a) full-time and (b) part-time support worker time under the Access to Work Scheme. [126579]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 20 June 2000]Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. James Paice, dated 21 June 2000:
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many people with dyslexia are currently receiving (a) full time or (b) part time support worker time under the Access to Work programme. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.I am afraid we do not collect the specific information you have asked for. However, we do collect information on the total number of disabled people needing the help of a support worker, and the total amount spent in providing this support. In 1999–2000 Access to Work helped 4,133 disabled people needing support workers in their jobs at a cost of £5.6 million. Independent research conducted for the ES and published in 1998 indicated that around 3% of people receiving Access to Work help had a specific learning disability, a category which includes people with dyslexia.I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.