Ministerial Delay on Remploy Factory Decision

3.00.00pm GMT Mon 12th Nov 2007

Workers at Remploy Factories threatened by closure face an agonising wait, after news today that a ministerial announcement on the issue has been delayed. MP Julia Goldsworthy, who has a Remploy factory in her constituency, has written to Work and Pensions Minister Anne McGuire asking for a clear timetable for the decision, so that affected workers are not kept in the dark any longer.

In a written statement to the House of Commons today, Anne McGuire acknowledged receipt of Remploy's final modernisation proposals, and commented on the good dialogue between the company and their trade unions. However, negotiations concluded without formal agreement. Her remarks concluded only by saying "Ministers have committed that Remploy's revised proposals will receive full ministerial scrutiny before any final decision. We will therefore study them in detail before making a further statement to the House in due course."

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy MP said:

"The threat of closure hanging over the Remploy Factory in Pool has massively demoralised staff working there. News that there will be further delay before a decision is made will now surely only make matters worse. While news that the talks have identified common ground - including the need for fewer factory closures - is welcome, it seems that the proposal to merge the Penzance and Redruth factories remains.

"I have written to Work and Pensions Minister Anne McGuire asking for a clear timetable for the decision, so that workers can have a clearer understanding of the process. I have also highlighted the difficulties that workers in Cornwall will face if the Redruth and Penzance factories are merged. The minister needs to demonstrate that she has taken account of the additional challenges that are faced by rural areas when making her decision.