Annette Brooke MP in Remploy plea

Published on Thu 14th Jun 2007

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole yesterday used a House of Commons debate to urge ministers to look at alternatives to closing the Remploy centre in Alder Hills, North Poole. Annette Brooke MP told Westminster Hall that any solution which involved workers travelling to Southampton for advice about work was 'not acceptable'. She was also concerned that Remploy did not know how many disabled people were employed by the factory and the fact that staff with learning difficulties facing the prospect of losing their jobs were unable to understand the 'long words' used by the counselling service.

Speaking at the time, Annette Brooke MP said;

"We could develop a centre of excellence. We could run the site but have it as part of the training process. I'm worried that time is running out and nothing is being done

"I have a real commitment to this local factory and to maintaining as many jobs there as possible, which we could do positively."

She added that "a centre of excellence providing training and work opportunities, could help so many disabled people in Dorset in the future and could provide a gateway to mainstream work. There is a potential local solution which could bring real long term benefits for our area."

ENDS

Notes to editor:

1- The Government has pledged to commit £550m on Remploy over five years.

2- Annette Brooke MP recently visited the Remploy site to speak to staff. More than 10 of the staff had been working there for 20 to 35 years, including one staff member who had been employed at the site for more than 40 years.