HC Deb 19 April 1955 vol 540 cc13-4
24. The Rev. LI. Williams

asked the Minister of Labour the financial loss or profit made by Remploy in 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954, respectively; and the financial loss or profit by Remploy, Abertillery, in the same years.

The Minister of Labour and National Service (Sir Walter Monckton)

In reply to the first part of the Question, I will circulate a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

With regard to the second part of the Question, it would not be in the best interests of the company or of its disabled employees to publish information of this kind about individual factories. The profit or loss on any factory varies according to the trading position.

The Rev. LI. Williams

In view of their wonderful work in the rehabilitation of the morale and self-respect of these disabled workmen, does not the Minister agree that no true assessment of the work of these factories can be made in financial terms of profit and loss?

Sir W. Monckton

Yes, Sir. I think it will be known to all of us that their work cannot be measured in that way, and I should like to pay a tribute to the people in the Abertillery and other Remploy factories; but I do not think it would be in the interests of individual factories if I gave the figures.

Following is the table:

REMPLOY LIMITED
STATEMENT OF EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME
Year ended 31st March Excess of expenditure over income
£
1951 … … … 1,732,891
1952 … … … 2,443,013
1953 … … … 2,380,400
1954 … … … 2,521,013
1955 … … … *2,430,000
*Estimate for period ended 1st March, 1955.