22 and 24. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Minister of Labour (1) why disabled men 142W employed in Remploy factories do not share the advantages enjoyed by blind people similarly employed in the same factories, (2) why disabled people employed in Remploy factories are unable to get the sickness benefits available to blind people.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThere is at Portsmouth a special arrangement under which a number of Remploy workers are employed in the same workshop alongside blind workers for whom the local authority is responsible. This arrangement which has persisted for some eight years, has enabled some sighted disabled men to be employed who would otherwise have been without work. I am, however, looking into the difficulty to which my hon. and gallant Friend has called attention and will write to him as soon as I can.
23. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that disabled and blind people employed in Remploy factories do a considerable amount of work to meet the cost of their wages; and if he will consider giving them a rise of pay to meet the rise in the cost of living that took place before October, 1951.
§ Mr. WatkinsonYes. I agree that the work of disabled people in Remploy factories meets some of the cost of their wages. The fixing of rates of wages for these workers is not the responsibility of the Government but of Remploy Limited, and present wages are those arrived at as a result of negotiations between Remploy Limited and the trade unions concerned.