Remploy

HC Deb 08 June 1959 vol 606 cc601-4

1. Mr. Probert

asked the Minister of Labour what Government assistance has been paid to Remploy Limited for the year 1958–59.

The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)

Payments to Remploy Limited during 1958–59 totalled £2,955,000.

Mr. Probert

Whilst thanking the Minister for that information, would he not agree, in view of the valuable work that Remploy Limited is performing and of which all hon. Members are aware, that the time has now come for the Government substantially to increase their contribution to Remploy so that, in its turn, it can expand the number of people which it can employ?

Mr. Macleod

I think that the amount I have mentioned and the amount for the current year have been in line with the amounts given in the past. I think that in some cases the expansion must be bound up with the trading position of the company. It is quite true that it does a wonderful work, but it is essential that it should, as far as possible, exist as a trading company.

2 and 9. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Labour (1) in view of the fact that the present number of disabled people employed at the Remploy factory, Coventry, is 59 in comparison with an average of 71 over the last five years, why there is to be a delay in the admission of eight further people considered suitable by his officers;

(2) if he will make a statement upon the efforts being made by Remploy to secure more work for Coventry, and other, packaging factories, and also upon the assistance which is being given by his Department in this matter.

Mr. Iain Macleod

There is not enough work available to justify a further intake to the Coventry Remploy factory at present, but I understand that Remploy has already increased its sales force for packaging work and is at present seeking additional representatives. The main responsibility for obtaining orders must, of course, rest with the company, but my Department and the disablement advisory committees give such help as they can.

Miss Burton

Whilst believing that the Minister wants to help, we never seem to get any further on this matter. Has the right hon. Gentleman looked at the actual financial position? Would he, for example, with regard to these eight people considered suitable for Coventry, look into what it costs in allowances for them not to be employed by Remploy as compared with the actual wages they would receive at Remploy? Is the Minister aware that some people look only at what they receive as wages and discount what they would otherwise be receiving?

Mr. Macleod

I am quite prepared to look at that. To some extent, I think, the answer must be the same as I gave to the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. Probert) on the first Question. Remploy is not a charity. It is a splendid ideal and it has done this sort of thing better in this country than it has been done in any other. However, I think it would be a mistake if one created work—created orders—all the time for Remploy alone. By far the most satisfactory thing for Remploy is to obtain commercial orders and Government orders. As far as we are concerned, the main Government supplier being the Ministry of Supply, we try to do our part.

Miss Burton

Is the Minister aware that this factory in Coventry had packaging facilities installed in it at the request of the Ministry? These facilities are not being used. We cannot agree that it is better to have these men sitting at home doing nothing rather than working in the factory, even if the Government have to pay.

Mr. Macleod

There has been a fall in the volume both of commercial and Government work. As far as the disabled workers in the factory are concerned, they are paid full wages by Remploy for standing time. As regards the eight people to whom the hon. Lady's Question is particularly directed, two of them have been accepted by Remploy and are awaiting vacancies.

8. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the need of the Remploy factories in Scotland to interest industrialists in their sponsorship schemes; and what steps he is taking to this end with a view to the maintaining of full employment in Scottish Remploy factories.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Yes, Sir. Remploy, assisted by my Department and by Disablement Advisory Committees, has given these schemes wide publicity among Scottish industrialists. Several industrialists have expressed interest in them. My hon. Friend has written to the hon. and learned Member giving details of the steps taken.

Mr. Hughes

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that note, which I have not yet received, will he consider employing a person with a vivid imagination and a practical character to attract industrialists to take a greater part in these very useful schemes?

Mr. Macleod

I very much want to attract sponsorship schemes to Remploy. In particular, I would like to see one or two of them in Scotland. One of the difficulties is that sponsorship schemes are sometimes difficult to promote in areas of high unemployment. It sounds paradoxical, but there is no labour shortage there which would induce subcontracting rather than an expansion of the employers' factory. I know that Remploy are very conscious of the needs of Scotland and are doing everything they can to secure sponsorship schemes for Scotland.