asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in the light of a recent statement by the Manpower Services Commission that the 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people had lost credibility, as so many of the disabled were unregistered, he will instigate fresh efforts and new methods to get the disabled registered so that it will be possible adequately to assess the incidence of unemployment among the disabled.

The Manpower Services Commission is currently reviewing the quota scheme for the employment of disabled people and will be making recommendations to Ministers towards the end of the year. The possibility of encouraging more disabled people to register is one of several options under consideration. My right hon. Friend will wish to consider carefully the recommendations put forward by the Commission before reaching any decisions on this important issue.