§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements have been put in place for improving the effectiveness of Remploy.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythMy noble Friend the Viscount Ullswater, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, has written to the chairman of Remploy approving the first annual performance agreement between the Department and the company. This agreement covers the year from 1 April 1992. It has been negotiated by the chief executive of the Employment Service, on behalf of my right hon. Friend, since new financing arrangements were established between the Department and Remploy in March 1992.
We have agreed targets which are realistic but stretching. These are:
- The average number of disabled people employed by Remploy Ltd. will be 8,650, subject to a tolerance of ± 3 per cent.
- At least 190 disabled employees will move from Remploy factories to opportunities under the Interwork scheme or to open employment, or from Interwork to open employment.
- The average number of disabled people employed in opportunities under the Interwork scheme will be 675, subject to a tolerance of ± 5 per cent.
- Remploy will keep within an operating deficit of £81.25 million—which, on average numbers of 8,650, will give a cost per disabled worker of £9,393.
I have arranged for the text of the annual performance agreement to be placed in the Library today.