§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the provision by Woodlee employment rehabilitation centre in Egham of residential assessment and rehabilitation for people with disabilities.
Mr. JacksonThe Secretary of State announced on 16 April, in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans)Official Report, columns 157–59, that employment services for people with disabilities are to be improved and developed.
New local employment service teams will be established over the next 12 to 18 months to provide more professional advice, assessment and help in finding and keeping work for people with disabilities.
Greater use will be made of the voluntary sector and others to provide employment rehabilitation, including residential facilities, and nine employment service regional centres of excellence will be established over, approximately, the next five years.
Operational responsibility for the development of employment services for people with disabilities, including the future of the Egham employment rehabilitation centre, rests with the chief executive of the Employment Service executive agency, Mike Fogden, to whom I have referred the right hon. Gentleman's question for a more detailed reply.