§ 29. Sir L. Plummerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that the subsidy to Remploy will be exempted during the present financial year from the cuts to be imposed on other Government expenditure.
§ Mr. H. BrookeAs my right hon. Friend stated in the House on 24th April, when we have reached decisions involving important changes in policy or administration we shall announce them to the House.
§ Sir L. PlummerBut is it not better to let the people in Remploy know now that there is not to be a cut in this most important social service? Does not the Minister understand that the remark that he has made will cause dismay not only to people in Remploy but to people unemployed for the time being?
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that he would make these announcements from time to time, and we cannot have a situation in which one bit after another of Government administration is, so to speak, excluded at the outset.
Mr. H. WilsonIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that some Ministers, including the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, have already announced that their Departments will, in certain respects, be exempt from that cut? Since that has been said by some Ministers, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public will feel apprehension that, where that is not said in answer to a question, a cut is intended? Furthermore, is he aware how uncertainty was caused a year ago by the attempt of the Government to secure a mean little economy out of Remploy, and will he remove the uncertainty which exists today?
§ Mr. BrookeI strongly advise the right hon. Gentleman and the public not to draw premature conclusions about these matters.