§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what targets Remploy has been set in its 1998–99 Annual Performance Agreement. [37448]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthI have, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, written to the Chairman of Remploy approving the 1998–99 Annual Performance Agreement between the Department and the Company. This agreement covers the year from 1 April 1998. It has been negotiated by the Chief Executive of the Employment Service on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The targets are
the average number of disabled people employed by Remploy Ltd. will be at least 10,050;the average number of disabled people employed under the Interwork scheme will be at least 3,350;at least 250 disabled employees will move from Remploy factories to Interwork, having been employed there for at least 1 year, or from Interwork or factories to open employment;Remploy Ltd. will keep within a total unit cost target (operating deficit per disabled worker) of £9,700;the unit cost of Interwork should be no more than £4,300;Remploy limited will keep within an operating deficit of £99m (including reorganisation costs).I have today arranged for the text of the Annual Performance Agreement to be placed in the Library.