APPENDIX 28
Letter to the Clerk of the Committee from
Rehab UK (EDP 37)
Dear Mr Moon,
I had hoped that we might prepare a formal note
for the Committee to consider in its inquiry on "Employment
for All". But in the last three months it has been necessary
for us to apply ourselves to planning to maintain our services
to the exclusion of all else.
Rehab UK concentrates on the vocational training
of people with brain injury and since we started, has succeeded
in placing some 70% of our clients in paid, full-time employment
from our Centres in London, Birmingham, Newcastle upon Tyne and
Manchester. The Centre in Manchester closed in 2001 because of
lack of statutory support and our pre-occupation at the end of
last year was trying to assure the future of the remaining Centres.
In 2002 we had budgeted for an excess of expenditure over income
of some £600,000 and were prepared to meet that. However,
in August 2002, it became clear that the shortfall was to be some
£400,000 larger mainly because of expected support from statutory
sources failing to materialise.
Throughout its existence, Rehab UK has accepted
that the first years would not meet the costs, but it expected
that over the years the shortfall would reduce. It has become
obvious that however we negotiate, however we introduced new statutory
and other lines of income, conflicting interests and, in some
cases, a refusal to accept responsibility seems to assure an annual
deficit of £1 million. The Board of Rehab UK consider that
this is no longer acceptable or practical. I enclose various documents
circulated over the recent months, letters to and replies from
government Ministers, which demonstrates our aims, how they will
benefit disabled people and the economy in general. [21]
I think that all this refers to point five of
your inquiry "Are the needs of particular groups of people
with disabilities adequately catered for". Our answer has
to be that they are not. The concern expressed by members of both
Houses in their questions, etc. demonstrates this and the letter
to me from the Minister for Work and Pensions of December 2002[22]
shows that there are no apparent plans to provide additional funds
to meet the needs.
I hope that you find the information useful
and I apologise for not providing a formal submission. I am sure
you understand our problems.
George Wilson
Chairman
8 January 2003
21 None of these documents are printed. Back
22
Not printed. Back
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