§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on current developments at Remploy. [110371]
§ Ms Hodge[holding answer 21 February 2000]: A new Chairman, Alan Pedder, took up appointment on 5 January 2000. He has been working with his Board to develop a strategy for the Company.
The key elements of the strategy are to:
create more opportunities for disabled people, including continued expansion of Interwork and support for disabled people to progress to unsubsidised jobs;use existing Remploy factories more effectively to provide training and development, as well as work, for their employees, thus supporting people to progress both within and outside Remploy;continue to modernise factories to drive for increased business opportunities;streamline the commercial management and administration of the Company;increase marketing initiatives to generate new sales.