(1)Facilities may be provided as specified in this section for enabling [F1disabled persons] who by reason of the nature or severity of [F2their disability] are unlikely either at any time or until after the lapse of a prolonged period to be able otherwise to obtain employment, or to undertake work on their own account (whether because employment or such work would not be available to them or because they would be unlikely to be able to compete therein on terms comparable as respects earnings and security with those enjoyed by persons engaged therein who [F3do not have a disability]), to obtain employment or to undertake such work under special conditions, and for the training of such persons for the employment or work in question.
(2)The nature of the facilities to be provided under this section shall be such as the Minister may determine, and the Minister may with the approval of the Treasury make arrangements for the provision thereof by [F4any company, association or body], which appears to the Minister to be able and willing to provide the requisite facilities in an efficient and proper manner.
[F5(2A)The only kind of company which the Minister himself may form in exercising his powers under this section is a company which is—
(a)required by its constitution to apply its profits, if any, or other income in promoting its objects; and
(b)prohibited by its constitution from paying any dividend to its members.]
(3)The objects of any company to be formed for the purposes of this section may include all such objects as appear to the Minister to be requisite for enabling it to act effectively for those purposes, and any such company shall be constituted so as to enable all or any of its operations to be controlled by the Minister or persons acting on his behalf as may appear to the Minister to be requisite.
(4)The Minister, or with his authorisation any such company association or body as aforesaid providing facilities under this section, may defray or contribute towards expenses incurred by persons for whom facilities are provided under this section in travelling to and from the place where they are employed or work or where training is provided, and may make payments to or in respect of such persons, up to such amounts as the Minister may with the approval of the Treasury determine and in such manner as he may determine.
(5)Payments may be made by the Minister—
(a)in respect of the expenses of the formation and incorporation of any such company as aforesaid
(b)to any such company association or body as aforesaid in respect of expenses incurred by them in providing facilities under this section, or of expenses incurred by them under the last preceding subsection, and
(c)to any local authority in respect of expenses incurred by them under any enactment conferring powers on them in that behalf in providing under arrangements made between the Minister and the authority facilities approved by him for any of the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, in defraying or contributing towards expenses incurred by persons for whom such facilities are so provided in travelling as mentioned in the last preceding subsection, or in making payments to or in respect of such persons,
up to such amounts as the Minister may with the approval of the Treasury determine.
[F6(5A)For the purposes of this section—
(a)a person is a disabled person if he is a disabled person for the purposes of [F7the Equality Act 2010]; and
(b) “ disability ” has the same meaning as in that Act. ]
(6)Expenses incurred by the Minister under this section shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 15(1) substituted (2.12.1996) by 1995 c. 50, s. 61(2)(a) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III
F2Words in s. 15(1) substituted (2.12.1996) by 1995 c. 50, s. 61(2)(b) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III
F3Words in s. 15(1) substituted (2.12.1996) by 1995 c. 50, s. 61(2)(c) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III
F4Words in s. 15(2) substituted (2.12.1996) by 1995 c. 50, s. 61(3) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III
F5S. 15(2A) inserted (2.12.1996) by 1995 c. 50, s. 61(4) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III
F6S. 15(5A) inserted (2.12.1996) by 1995 c. 50, s. 61(5) (with ss. 59, 64, 65); S.I. 1996/1474, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. III
F7Words in s. 15(5A) substituted by 2010 c. 15 Sch. 26 Pt. 1 para. 1 (as inserted (1.10.2010) by The Equality Act 2010 (Consequential Amendments, Saving and Supplementary Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2279), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 2 (see S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2))
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 15 extended by Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1958 (c. 33), s. 3(1)