Reprieve for Remploy should be used to build better service for disabled jobseekers, says Beith

3.00.00pm GMT Mon 3rd Dec 2007

Alan Beith, Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick, has welcomed news that the Remploy workshop in Ashington is to be kept open after months of speculation about its future. Although the workshop will move from production of wheelchairs to production of beds, the factory will remain open.

Alan Beith said

"I am pleased that the Ashington factory will be continuing but the remaining Remploy factories, including Ashington, are being set very tough targets. Ashington is also having to undertake a change of work.

"However, there is some talk of voluntary redundancies. It is absolutely essential that Remploy builds up the quality of help it gives to place people in mainstream employment, not just for the sake of anyone leaving the present workforce but in order to help a much wider range of disabled people."

During the past few months, Alan Beith has lobbied both the Chair of Remploy and the Minister for Disabled People to argue for keeping the Ashington factory working. Many of the employees at Remploy Ashington live in the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency which Mr Beith represents at Westminster.