§ 2. Mr. F. Andersonasked the Minister of Labour how many seriously disabled persons, eligible, and suitable for employment at the Remploy factory, Cleator Moor, are awaiting employment; and the reasons for their non-employment thereat.
§ Sir W. MoncktonThe number of unemployed registered disabled persons eligible for consideration for employment in the Cleator Moor Remploy factory was 37 at 15th September, 1952, although they are not necessarily all suitable for jobs which may become available in the factory.
I am informed by the company that six will be taken on shortly. The present factory will then be fully manned.
§ 3. Mr. F. Andersonasked the Minister of Labour the position of the building of the new factory at Cleator Moor for Remploy, Ltd.
§ Sir W. MoncktonI understand that Remploy, Ltd. are now preparing plans for a new factory to be built as soon as possible in the next financial year, to replace the present unsatisfactory building.
§ Mr. AndersonIs the Minister aware that in February he said that this matter was to be reconsidered at the end of the year? Is he also aware that the plans have already been prepared and, I understand, passed, and the site prepared and everything, by the Cumberland development authority? What is preventing the work on this factory going on?
§ Sir W. MoncktonAs I said, we have made some provision for this factory in the next financial year, and the answer I gave was after consideration of the communications of the Remploy factory itself, and to the best of my knowledge they are correct.
§ Mr. AndersonBy "the next financial year" does the right hon. and learned Gentleman mean in April of next year—or when does the next financial year commence?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI did mean April.
§ 10. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Labour when he expects to be able sub-stantially to increase the number of disabled persons employed in Remploy factories in the North-East Development Area.
§ Sir W. MoncktonUntil Remploy, Ltd., have consolidated their trading position, recruitment for all their factories will be limited mainly to replacement of wastage through various causes. It is unlikely that there will be any substantial increase in the number employed in the North-East Development Area.
Mr. WileyWhile fully realising the right hon. and learned Gentleman's sympathetic interest in this matter, may I ask him whether he appreciates that in the heavy industrial areas there is a high incidence of disabled people, and that it is widely felt that these factories could and ought to provide employment for more disabled workers?
§ Sir W. MoncktonThe figure I am given for those who might be helped in this way is 703, 521 of whom are in 10 Remploy factories in the area. The estimated capacity of those factories is 615. That will show the hon. Gentleman the size of the problem.