HC Deb 18 April 1950 vol 474 cc15-6
29. Mr. Leslie Hale

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is prepared to request the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation to make provisions from the Remploy centre in Glodwick Road, Oldham, for the provision of work for those disabled persons in Oldham and in Chadderton, whose disability confines them to their homes.

Mr. Isaacs

Remploy Limited, will be considering the introduction of home workers' schemes in any district where it is practicable. They have so far established such schemes in connection with nine of their factories. I understand that it may be some time before it is possible to introduce such arrangements at Oldham.

Mr. Hale

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind there are a large number of disabled persons in Oldham still registered as totally unemployed, many being confined to their homes? This is a magnificent scheme which my right hon. Friend has provided in Oldham, for which we are grateful. The scheme is working very well, but will my right hon. Friend have a word with me to see whether he cannot step it up in Oldham, where it is so important?

Mr. Isaacs

I should be glad to have a word with my hon. Friend. The problem is whether the kind of work done in the Remploy factory is such as to lend itself to out-working schemes—in this case it is woodwork and upholstery. Where the work is not suitable, we have to look around for some alternative. We now have some 200 out-workers employed in the country, and it is the Corporation's intention that such work shall continue.