asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many registered disabled persons are registered as unemployed at offices of his Department covering the city of Birmingham; and how this compares with the past two years;(2) how many employers in the area covered by his Department's Birmingham offices are not employing the 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled persons; and how this compares with the past two years.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as shown below:

	Unemployed registered disabled people
Employment Office/Jobcentre	12th May 1977	May 1976	May 1975
Aston	380	419	304
Birmingham	134	135	145
Handsworth	182	170	144
Selly Oak	582	486	383
Sparkhill*	163	—	—
Sutton Coldfield	84	92	59
Small Heath	147	309	235
Washwood Heath	227	196	161
* Opened October 1976. The total as at 12th May includes people formerly registered as unemployed at Small Heath.

On 1st June 1977, 721 firms in the areas covered by the above employment offices/jobcentres were not employing the 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people compared with 754 in 1976 and 702 in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration has been given by his Department into the possibility of taking over existing industrial premises in Wales from companies that have gone into liquidation, for the purposes of converting the premises and using the existing equipment as sheltered workshops for disabled persons.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that when it has been established that there is a sufficient number of severely disabled people for a further viable workshop in any area of Wales, all possible sources of premises and equipment will be considered on their merits.