§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government if, in areas where suitable facilities are available, it would be possible for Remploy to act as agents for local health authorities in discharge of their responsibilities under the Mental Health Act, to provide training and occupation for the mentally disordered.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)My Lords, Remploy already provide employment for a number of mentally disordered persons. The company will continue to consider persons handicapped by mental disorders, together with other disabled persons for vacancies in Remploy factories, but it has no power to act as agents for local health authorities in the provision of training or occupation.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that my Question invites consideration of granting such powers to Remploy? I would ask him to look at this matter again, particularly—having regard to the tremendous success of Remploy—with a view to seeing whether the Remploy sales organisation could not be used to dispose of the products of these centres, and in that way give the mentally disordered people a chance of earning at least part of their living instead of being in merely therapeutic centres.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEI am very grateful to the noble Lord for his appreciation of the excellent work which is being done by Remploy. They do employ, out of a total of 6,300, I think about 500 people who are suffering from various kinds of mental or nervous disorders; and in view of the possibility of some of the persons placed by local authorities in special centres being able to go to Remploy afterwards very close touch is maintained. But that is not quite the same as giving the primary responsibility to Remploy for the care of mentally disordered people.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that what I have in mind is that in these local authority centres mentally disordered people will make something and it is absolutely essential that it should be sold by a skilled organisation; otherwise they will be at the mercy of charitable disposals and it will not be a really serious project. Would he consider that possibility?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEI gather the noble Lord is thinking of more efficient arrangements for the sale of their products, and I will most certainly look into that.