§ 36. Mr. Willeyasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the fact that a quarter of the disabled persons in Sunderland are unemployed, what extra provision is being made by Remploy, or other means, to provide employment for these persons.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkI fully accept that unemployment in Sunderland is too high, both generally and in respect of disabled people. But the situation has improved gradually over the last year and I hope that the Government's economic measures will effect still further improvement. We intend to make increased provision for those severely disabled people who require sheltered employment. An extension to Remploy's factory in Sunderland, due for completion later this year, will provide 50 additional places. We have also approved in principle plans by the Sunderland local authority to provide facilities for a further 30 severely disabled workers in a new workshop to replace the existing workshop for the blind.