§ 2.53 p.m.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are now in a position to state what arrangements have been made to increase Government contracts to Remploy.]
174§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, during the debate on this subject on June 24 I stated that the Departments concerned were examining possible ways of increasing the volume of Government contracts allocated to sheltered workshops, including Remploy factories. It is not yet possible to announce the results of this investigation, but I am glad to tell the noble Lord that sales by Remploy to Government Departments during the first 34 weeks of the present financial year totalled £523,000, compared with £497,000 for the corresponding period last year.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, in considering the matter will the Government Departments concerned bear in mind that a very substantial subsidy has to be paid by Parliament to maintain these sheltered workshops and that it is both financially expedient and humanly desirable that work should be given to these shops, so both saving the taxpayers' money and giving the men employment—which is far more important than money?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are certainly aware of that. As I tried to explain to your Lordships; in our debate last June, there are considerable difficulties presented both by price preference and by monopoly—questions which are now being investigated by the Departments concerned. Even if something could be done in that direction it is a little doubtful whether it would result in any very widespread increase in employment among disabled persons. Perhaps the most valuable activity of Her Majesty's Government in this matter is the Priority Suppliers Committee which continually brings to the notice of all branches of spending Departments all over the country the kind of goods which can be produced by Remploy and other sheltered workshops and which may be desired by the purchasing Departments.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, arising out of the last answer, can the noble Earl say whether any progress has been made by the Priority Suppliers Committee in respect of getting information from priority suppliers as to what they can furnish to the Government Department? Can the noble Earl give any indication whether any progress has been made with regard to other suggestions made during the debate on June 24 and, in particular, with reference to 175 contracts being given without the necessity for tenders?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, the Priority Suppliers Committee meets twice each year under Ministry of Labour chairmanship, and I believe that since it was set up very great progress has been made in disseminating information among Government Departments and their agents. With regard to the inquiry, I believe the Minister stated in his recent letter to the noble Lord, Lord Fraser of Lonsdale, that it is hoped to publish its conclusions in the near future but that it is not yet possible to do so.