Specialist Disability Employment

Frank Doran Excerpts

Tuesday 10th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Maria Miller]

The Remploy factory in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency will be taken forward; I am not sure why that is not on his list.

[Mr Frank Doran (Aberdeen North) (Lab)]

Our thoughts today must be with the 1,400 Remploy workers losing their jobs and facing probably a lifetime of redundancy. Of course, I am delighted that my factory in Aberdeen is going forward, which is a tribute to staff and management at the Aberdeen factory. It has been achieved, however, in spite of Remploy management’s failure to provide any useful information that would have allowed for any financial planning or even to talk about taking forward social enterprises. I hope that the Minister will ensure that in the second phase these things will be a key part of the process.

[Maria Miller]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments. As for the factory in his constituency, I spoke to the Scottish Government this morning. They are keen to try to continue with their support, as they have been working with us throughout the process. We will of course take forward any lessons from the first stage of factories into the second stage, but I think the process has been handled well and thoughtfully, and with the right level of professionalism.