Remploy - Swansea - 2nd Oct, 2007

Swansea East MP, Sian James, has visited the Remploy Business Centre, which is facing closure.

Sian James MP and Geraint Davies, Swansea West Parliamentary candidate, visited the Remploy Admintration centre in Swansea.

Sian James MP pledged her support to the staff members at the centre and said that she would do all possible to represent them.

She said: "I was pleased to support employees at the service centre in Fforestfach.

"I have made consistent representations to the Government against the closure of the business centre and its relocation to Leeds. I believe this raises question on Remploy's commitment to Wales.

"The Government has recently announced that the closure programme will be reviewed. I have written to the Secretary of State, Peter Hain, to ask whether he will reconsider the closure of the city's service centre and asking a number of perinent questions."

Geraint Davies said following the meeting; "As new legislation now allows preferential procurement from Remploy from local, devolved and central government the proposal to close half the factories is short sighted and wrong."

"Remploy turns over £165m per year and has just won a new £150m order from the NHS so the overall number of jobs should not be cut. The Swansea admin office responsible for paying suppliers should remain as the business is refocused on growth instead of decline.

"I'm looking to bring together the National Audit Office and Cooperative Movement to review the business opportunities for the current Remploy product range in light of new markets from recent legislation. Our aim should be to retain the 6500 workers with a rebalanced product range and a higher turnover "

Sian James and Geraint Davies have asked for a meeting with Peter Hain to discuss new business opportunities for Remploy and ensuring disabled workers face a choice of sheltered workshops and mainstream employment.