To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new money will be made available for the sheltered employment budget in the next year; and what was the number of (a) permits issued to employers, (b) inspections carried out by his Department under the quota scheme in each of the last five years, and (c) attempts to prosecute for failure to meet the quota, since 1960.
The 1990 public expenditure survey provides an additional £4·6 million for 1991–92 for the sheltered employment programme compared with the corresponding provision in last year's plans. With regard to the quota scheme:
(a) my Department does not keep information in the form requested. However, the number of employers issued with permits during the 12-month period ending 1 June was:
Employers
| |
| 1990 | 18,036 |
| 1989 | 18,530 |
| 1988 | 18,594 |
| 1987 | 18,577 |
| 1986 | 18,840 |
(b) The number of quota inspections carried out during the 12-month period ending in April was:
Number
| |
| 1990 | 1,903 |
| 1989 | 2,050 |
| 1988 | 2,273 |
| 1987 | 2,553 |
| 1986 | 2,360 |
(c) There have been six prosecutions for failure to meet quota since 1960: three in 1975 and one each in 1964, 1973 and 1974.