asked the Secretary of State for Employment what talks have taken place between his Department and the Manpower Services Commission about the Remploy Company; and if he will make a statement.

The Manpower Services Commission took over responsibility for sheltered employment, including Remploy Limited, from the Department of Employment on 1st July 1976. Since then there has been regular contact between my Department and the MSC on matters relating to Remploy. I have recently had discussions about Remploy with the chairman of the MSC and the chairman of the Remploy board and will be attending the next Remploy board meeting.