§ 5. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the age limits and other conditions under which people work in the Remploy Factory, Aberdeen, operate harshly on the type of persons Remploy was founded to assist; and if he will relax and improve those limits and conditions and specify the steps he intends to take to that end.
§ Mr. P. ThomasThere are no fixed age limits, and I am not aware of any other conditions operating harshly on employees of Remploy; but if the hon. and learned Member will give me particulars, I shall be glad to look into any particular case he may have in mind.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that the persons for whom the Remploy factories were instituted should be given the utmost consideration? Will he see that they are given the utmost consideration because of their disability to do ordinary work?
§ Mr. ThomasI certainly agree with the view expressed by the hon. and 11 learned Gentleman. I have made inquiries into the Aberdeen Remploy Factory, and it seems to me that the manager there is particularly sympathetic towards the disabled. He has asked me to say that he would welcome a visit from the hon. and learned Gentleman to this factory. The hon. and learned Gentleman would find that the disabled are very well looked after there.
§ Mr. HughesI agree with the Parliamentary Secretary as to the conditions in which the manager works. He is an extremely good manager, and my Question is not intended as an imputation on him in any way.