§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what discussions his Department has held with Remploy on its corporate plan; [58419]
(2) what role there will be for Remploy employees and their representatives in drawing up Remploy's corporate plan; [58420]
(3) what discussions his Department has held with Remploy on factory closures; [58421]
(4) what variations to Remploy's targets for 1997–98 have been made for the years (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000; [58422]
(5) what is the forecast subsidy to Remploy in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; [58452]
(6) when he last met the relevant trade unions to discuss the future operations of Remploy. [58453]
§ Ms HodgeI understand that Remploy management meet with the Remploy Consortium of Unions at the National Joint Consultative Committee regularly to discuss a range of issues. In particular, Remploy delivered a series of presentations/discussions in July this year to managers and local shop stewards about the strategy set out in the latest Corporate Plan. In addition, national trade union officers received a presentation in May, in advance of the publication of the plan. Remploy intend to adopt a similar approach next time round, and employees have been invited to put forward questions on future strategy and on how they could be more closely involved in planning Remploy's future.
I am expecting Remploy to submit their next Corporate Plan (covering the 3 years 1999–2000 to 2001–02) shortly, for my approval. I will be discussing it with the Remploy Chairman as usual.
Remploy has agreed a broad strategy with Ministers to improve employer opportunities for disabled people both in factories and through Interwork. As part of their strategy Remploy needs to address overcapacity in their factory network through mergers, changes of trade and factory rationalisation. Details of this strategy have been 657W published in Remploy's Corporate Plan for 1998–99 to 2000–01, and in the Remploy booklet "Planning for our Future", issued to Remploy employees. The operational detail involved in implementing this strategy is a matter for the Remploy Board, as it has to be based on commercial decisions which only Remploy can take.
Remploy's targets for 1999–2000 have not yet been agreed. The following variations were agreed with Remploy for 1998–99 in comparison with 1997–98: average number of disabled people—extra 250; average number of Interworkers—extra 350; progressions—extra 50; operating deficit per disabled worker—decrease of £300 per annum (at cash prices); operating deficit per Interworker—decrease of £100 per annum (at cash prices).
Remploy is currently developing its plans for 1999–2000 and for future years. The subsidy will be subject to those plans and further negotiations with the Department. My predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, East (Mr. Howarth), met the Remploy unions on 2 February 1998. I intend to meet the Remploy unions myself in due course.