§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what targets Remploy has been set in its 1993–94 annual performance agreement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythOn behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, my noble Friend Lord Henley has written to the chairman of Remploy approving the 1993–94 annual performance agreement between the Department and the company. This agreement covers the year from 1 April 1993. It has been negotiated by the chief executive of the Employment Service, on behalf of my right hon. Friend.
On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, my noble Friend Lord Henley has agreed targets which are realistic but stretching. These are:
the average number of disabled people employed by Remploy Ltd. will be at least 8,550;of which no more than 7,700, on average must be employed in factories;at least 115 disabled employees will move from Remploy factories to opportunities under the Interwork scheme or to open employment, or from Interwork to open employment; the unit cost of Interwork should be no more than the sheltered employment voluntary body deficiency grant £4,310;Remploy Ltd. will keep within an operating deficit of £83.2 million—including £0.5 million reorganisation costs —which on average numbers of 8,550 will give a cost per disabled worker of £9,731;Remploy Ltd. will prepare and agree a charter for its employees by March 1994.I have today arranged for the text of the annual performance agreement to be placed in the Library.