HC Deb 28 February 1957 vol 565 cc1365-7
1. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the Remploy sponsorship scheme.

2. Mr. Collins

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to inform industry of the advantages of the Remploy sponsorship scheme.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Robert Carr)

Under these schemes, which are designed to benefit both parties, Remploy provides the factory space, labour and skilled management, while the sponsoring firm supplies raw materials, plant and machinery and buys back the finished product at an agreed economic price. I understand that the three schemes so far in operation are proving successful, that two further schemes have been agreed, and that several other possibilities are being examined.

Information about sponsorship schemes has been sent to all local offices of my Department, and they have been asked to let Remploy know of any suitable opportunities for development which come to their notice. Remploy itself has written to chairmen of disablement advisory committees inviting their support and has also approached a large number of firms and trade associations. I am glad to have this opportunity of making these arrangements more widely known.

Mr. Willey

I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his statement and I appreciate the interest which he is showing in Remploy. May I assume that he will continue to use his good offices in seeking to extend this very useful development for Remploy?

Mr. Carr

Certainly, Sir.

Mr. Collins

May I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his courtesy in informing me that he was proposing to answer my Question together with that of my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey), and express the hope that his example will be followed by other hon. and right hon. Gentlemen on the Front Bench opposite? May I further ask the Minister whether he agrees that this system will result in a saving of public money and increasing employment for disabled persons?

Mr. Carr

The schemes are most excellent, and certainly the results so far are most encouraging. They are bringing more employment and advantages to Remploy and its workers, leading to increased earnings for the workers and lower costs for Remploy. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the hon. Member for Shoreditch and Finsbury (Mr. Collins) for the interest which he is showing in this matter.

5 and 6. Mr. Hannan

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many local authorities in Scotland have entered into sponsorship schemes with Remploy factories;

(2) the number and description of sponsorship schemes which have been introduced into Remploy factories in Scotland.

Mr. Carr

All the sponsorship schemes so far planned or in operation are with private firms. There is none in Scotland and Remploy would be glad to hear of any firms which might be interested.

Mr. Hannan

Will the Parliamentary Secretary inquire into what steps have been taken to apprise local authorities and the appropriate industrialists? Will he accept it from me that we are very anxious to have schemes of this character started in Scotland?

Mr. Carr

I am sure that Remploy shares that anxiety that no such schemes exist in Scotland and will go out of its way to get satisfactory schemes. I am afraid that Remploy does not think that the local authorities offer much scope because in general they order a very wide range of merchandise and the quantities required of any one article produced by Remploy are unlikely to be big enough to justify sponsorship schemes, but if there is any exception to that we shall be very glad.

Mr. Lawson

Will the hon. Gentleman reply to the other part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question? What steps have been taken in Scotland to bring these schemes to the notice of private enterprise?

Mr. Carr

A number of firms in Scotland have been approached. I cannot give a list of exactly which ones, but Remploy has tried to stimulate interest in the schemes through the good offices of the chairmen of all disabled unemployed advisory committees.