Robert Brown calls for Remploy Enquiry

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Sep 2007

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown has today slammed plans to close 43 out of 83 Remploy factories across the United Kingdom.

Mr. Brown has lodged a Scottish Parliamentary motion, calling for an independent enquiry into the future employment needs of disabled people, and the management and procurement arrangements at Remploy.

Remploy recently announced its plans to close three of its 10 Scottish factories at Aberdeen, Hillington and Wishaw. 125 disabled and 10 non-disabled employees will be affected by the closures.

Their Rutherglen factory closed some years ago.

Robert Brown said:

"Remploy have provided sheltered factories for people with disablements since the War.

"It is entirely right to push for more disabled people to enter mainstream work, but this is often incredibly difficult and for some it is simply not realistic.

"Some disabled people need more flexibility in their workplace or would have other problems working in mainstream jobs. Remploy gives these people skilled jobs and reasonable pay which would not otherwise be available.

"I have seen at first hand the good work done by Remploy - both in the old Rutherglen factory, and in the plants at Hillington and Clydebank.

"Remploy have underestimated the difficulties in placing all those affected by this into new jobs elsewhere. Plans for mass closures are simply unrealistic and incredibly unsettling for many vulnerable people."

Ends

Notes for Editors

REMPLOY

motion:-

S3M-398 Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD) : Campaign Against Remploy Closures- That the Parliament is concerned at the proposals by Remploy to close or transfer 43 factories out of a total of 83 that it operates; believes that there is a continuing need for sheltered factories to provide skilled and supportive employment as a choice suitable for many disabled people as well as supporting entry for others into mainstream employment; congratulates the workforce and the trade unions on the campaign being run by them against the closures; urges the Scottish Executive to take full advantage of European Union legislation allowing public procurement from organisations like Remploy, and calls on the UK Government to reconsider its support for the Modernising Remploy agenda and to establish an independent inquiry into the future employment needs of disabled people and the management and procurement arrangements at Remploy.

Mr. Brown was a speaker at the meeting of the Remploy workers' crusade against the closures which is campaigning across the UK.