HC Deb 23 May 1994 vol 244 cc48-9W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many fax machines are currently on loan to people with disability under the aids-to-employment scheme; what service arrangements exist for such equipment; and in what circumstances fax machines are(a) removed, (b) updated or (c) determined to be obsolete.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Joan Walley, dated 23 May 1994: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of fax machines currently on loan to people with disabilities under the Special Aids to Employment scheme, (SAE) together with servicing arrangements, the circumstances of removal, updating and determining obsolescence. The numbers that you have asked for are not held centrally for machines issued before October 1993. Forty two fax machines were issued to clients under the SAE in the six months to April 1994, together with six fax card adaptations which allow receipt and transmission of faxes on personal computers. During the same period, one fax machine previously issued required repair. As owner of the aid, the ES is responsible for repairs, maintenance and servicing contracts are not taken out by the ES because of the costs involved and the low incidence of breakdown. Where equipment breaks down, a replacement may be issued as a temporary back-up whilst repair is effected. Fax machines would normally only be removed if the client left employment or no longer required the equipment. Updating takes place when the need for more advanced equipment is identified. Fax hardware and software have both remained stable platforms in the past two years, advance being made largely in terms of speed of fax transmission, which does not affect the ability of older machines to either send or receive messages. For this reason, it is generally accepted that older machines may be slower in transmission but are not regarded as obsolete. I hope this is helpful.