Remploy

I was pleased that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain was able to respond positively to what I had to say on the future of Remploy at the Labour conference. Peter said that no Remploy factory would close without proper scrutiny by Ministers. He also promised to see how procurement opportunities in government could be opened up for Remploy factories.

The Labour-led Assembly government is already encouraging public bodies to use Remploy factories, and the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, for example, will be working with the Remploy factory in Dinas. The Dinas factory is of course staying open – it operates in the field of recycling computers – removing confidential data to the highest standards – and in the recycling of white goods. These are both good businesses to be in for the long-term, given the new laws on recycling of computers and white goods. But we have people from the Rhondda working at other factories which are in danger of closing and Chris Bryant MP and I have taken up their case….