HC Deb 21 March 1995 vol 257 cc131-2W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the work of Remploy as clothing suppliers has met his quality control standards.

Miss Widdecombe

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

Letter from R.M. Phillips to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 21 March 1995: The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question about whether the work of Remploy as clothing suppliers has met his quality control standards. Although Remploy receives substantial financial support from Government (£92.1 million for 1994/95), and operates within an Annual Performance Agreement setting targets in relation to the employment of disabled people, in every other respect it operates as a normal commercial company. As such, any quality control standards are a matter for Remploy and its customers. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many contracts have been awarded to Remploy since the special contracts arrangements were introduced.

Miss Widdecombe

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

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Peter Thurnham, dated 21 March 1995: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many contracts have been awarded to Remploy since the special contracts arrangements were introduced. To date Remploy has received orders in excess of £20 million since the introduction of the Special Contracts Arrangements on 29 November, 1994. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of whether the special contracts arrangements are working effectively.

Miss Widdecombe

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) on 15 March,Official Report, column 624.