asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the proposal to limit capital expenditure will curtail or delay the opening of the full number of Remploy factories which was originally contemplated.

The programme of the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation provides a total of 107 factories eventually. Of these, 12 are already open, and 23 are in course of erection. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Accrington (Mr. Scott-Elliot) on 6th November, the Government will facilitate the completion of the programme to the maximum extent consistent with the needs of the present economic situation. In addition, it is the intention to make available to the Corporation accommodation in certain Government Training Centres which has now become surplus to training requirements, and to the extent to which this is done, it will accelerate the programme.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to inform employers of their liability to employ a quota of disabled persons under certain conditions under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act; and what proportion of employers are employing their quota.

All the means at my disposal, including the use of leaflets, posters, Press and radio have been used to inform employers of their quota obligations under the Act. Local disablement advisory committees have also assisted in informing employers. The Act requires employers to keep records, and empowers me to inspect them, and this is being done, but precise information about the proportion of employers who are employing their quota is not available.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman promise, of indicate, some months ago that he was getting a return from employers which would show him, either wholly throughout the country, or by sample, what proportion were employing their quota and what were not?

It was not quite that. I did promise to make an investigation, and that is being done. The information is being collected, but, at the moment I cannot give the percentage asked for as to who are employing their quota and who are not. In the main, employers are carrying out their obligations honourably, and we are trying to get the matter straightened up without exerting undue pressure.

In view of the large number of disabled men unemployed, can the right hon. Gentleman say when we shall get the information?

I will let the House have it as soon as the inquiry has been completed.

asked the Minister of Labour what types of production are being carried on in the factories of the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation.

Hale:

asked the Minister of Labour what are the varieties and types of employment now available in the Disabled Persons Employment Centres; and for what categories of disabled persons employment is provided.

The work available to disabled persons employed in the factories of the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation varies in the different workshops. As the list is lengthy, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Employment in the Corporation's workshops is provided for any disabled person whose disablement is so severe that he is unlikely to be able to work under ordinary conditions, and thus needs special conditions such as the workshop provides, that is, anyone who qualifies under Section 15 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is intended to extend the list in the near future?

No, Sir. The list which I will circulate is complete as far as it covers those already in operation but this is not the end of the operation. Many others will be added from time to time.

Is it intended that these factories should operate at a profit or a loss, or should they balance out over a period of years?

The hope is that they will work at a profit, as, indeed, some of them are. The Act provides that the main purpose of these workshops is to provide employment at proper wages for the persons engaged in them. Should there be a loss, the State bears that loss.

Following is the list:

Manufacture

• Boxes, cardboard and wooden.
• Bookcases.
• Christmas crackers.
• Curtains and Soft furnishings.
• Electrically heated pads and blankets.
• Engineering—light assembly.
• Farm gates and other agricultural wood-work.
• Furniture, utility and nursery.
• Kitchen woodware.
• Ladies' handbags.
• Leather goods, including industrial mittens, gloves and knee pads. Ordinary straps and straps for the carriage of kettle drums.
• Poultry houses.
• Soft toys.
• Step ladders.
• Tea Trolleys.
• Violins, bows and cases.

Repairs

• Battery boxes.
• Metal Bedsteads.
• Upholstery.
• Watches and Clocks.
• Wooden lockers.