Remploy (Hansard, 15 June 1995)

§ Mr. Alistair Darling (Edinburgh, Central)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. The hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) has been good enough to draw to my attention a passage in a speech that he made yesterday morning in the House on a debate on Remploy, in which he said: It has been suggested to me that Remploy could be transformed into an employee-owned trust. The hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling), the Opposition spokesman on finance and City affairs, spoke at the launch of the new Employee Share Ownership Trust, so there is interest on both sides of the House in considering a possible different structure for Remploy as an employee-owned trust."—[Official Report, 14 June 1995; Vol. 261, c. 713.]

I had no idea that the hon. Gentleman was going to make that speech and mention me, but at no time have I ever suggested any structure for Remploy. Indeed, the hon. Gentleman approached me in the Lobby some two days ago, asking about Remploy, and I specifically referred him to my colleague on the Front Bench who has responsibility for Remploy. It is perfectly true that we are in favour of employee-owned trusts, but we have never made any comments so far as Remploy is concerned.

I am quite prepared to accept that the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East inadvertently misled himself. I did look for him before I raised this matter, but it is important that the record is put right, because these proceedings are followed outside the House.