§ 27. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Labour, in view of the achievements of industrial rehabilitation centres in restoring the respect and usefulness of the disabled as well as providing sheltered employment for the severely disabled, and in view of the general concern caused by the economy measures in respect to the Kidbrooke and Long Eaton training centres and at 15 rehabilitation centres, he will give details of when the economy measures will come into force, of the proposed reduction in the numbers of disabled and staff at the centres, and of the sums estimated to be saved by these decisions.
§ Mr. HareI have no intention of closing any industrial rehabilitation units. I hope to make a detailed statement shortly and I will send the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. DoddsWill the right hon. Gentleman remember that the general secretary of the Institution of Professional Civil 1378 Servants has already looked at his proposals and that this man of very temperate language calls them brutal, callous, shortsighted and mean? Does that not explain why the right hon. Gentleman cannot today give the facts to the House, and is this not a classic example of how low we have fallen under this Government when they have to economise with people who have previously had their morale raised?
§ Mr. HareThat rather emotional reaction on the part of the hon. Gentleman is presumably based on misinformation. He presumably imagined that I was going to close rehabilitation units. That is not the fact, and I hope that he will realise from my answer that his question and indignation were, perhaps, based on false information.
§ Mr. SpeakerNo.
§ Mr. DoddsOn a point of order. Owing to the very unsatisfactory answer that has been given, I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.