Breathing Space for Remploy Workers - Brooke

3.47.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 20th Jul 2006

Following this morning's meeting with Minister, Anne McQuire, local MP Annette Brooke welcomed the consultation period now being offered to all Remploy employees, following the publication yesterday of the Price Waterhouse Coopers review of the Remploy factories.

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said:

"There were fears that the report was a foregone conclusion that would lead to rapid factory closures including the factory in North Poole (Alder Hills)

"In fact there are a number of welcome reassurances both in the report and from the Minister this morning:

"First - funding for Remploy (£111 Million per year, supporting 9,000 disabled people, 5,000 of them in 83 factories) is not going to be cut.

"Second - Any restructuring of how Remploy uses this money to best support disabled people will take place over a 5 year period with no compulsory redundancies.

"Third - Remploy employees, management and Unions have the Autumn and Spring in which to make the case for how to move forward in their area."

"I know, from my recent visit there, that Poole's Remploy Factory has a very good business case for remaining in operation and has a good opportunity to make that case over the next few months. In addition, I believe that working closely with the community and the local council there are real opportunities for developing part of the site as a specialist training centre."

"The Government's emphasis on moving the focus from long term sheltered employment, to training and equipping people for the open job market, presents particular challenges. Those who have worked for many years in a Remploy factory and are nearing retirement age must be safeguarded. Some disabilities also make it much harder to obtain and maintain full time employment and the Government must recognise and allow for this.

"Anne McQuire assured me this morning that she was aware of and supportive of these issues. I shall visit the Poole factory again on Monday morning to reassure all the employees that I will be working to keep and develop this enterprise."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Price Waterhouse Coopers report on the future business options for Remploy Ltd can be read at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2006/remploy/

Annette Brooke MP met with Anne McGuire MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Work and Pensions this morning to discuss the future strategic direction of Remploy Ltd.