asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to the Government's welcome for the charter for the 1980s for disabled people world-wide, how many disabled people are involved in the preparation of plans in his Department for rehabilitation and training of the disabled; if he will indicate the policy of his Department in this regard; and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 16 November 1982, c. 84.M]: My right hon. Friend is required by the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 to establish a national advisory council to advise and assist him in matters relating to the employment of disabled people. The national advisory council on employment of disabled people therefore comments and advises him on the preparation of plans for the rehabilitation and training of disabled people. The Act requires the appointment of an independent chairman, an equal number of members appointed after consultation with organisations representing employers and workers and a number of other persons with experience of, or interest in, the resettlement of disabled people.Some members of the present council are themselves disabled and, at the present time, membership includes people directly involved with the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, the National League of Blind and the Disabled, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the National Society for Epilepsy.Further, the 1944 Act requires my right hon. Friend to establish, at local level, committees to advise and assist him in matters relating to the employment of disabled people in that locality. Members of these committees for employment of disabled people, like the council, include disabled people and people who have close links with disablement organisations.