The future of the Poole Remploy factory - will it survive?

12.00.00am GMT Wed 19th Nov 2008

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, has today secured an adjournment debate on Remploy and public procurement, with reference to the Poole factory. Annette will be speaking in Westminster Hall at 4-30pm today

Points that she will be raising include asking the Minister:

'Why was Poole factory given the task of supplying local authorities in the South West if it wasn't possible to have a route into public procurement which did not require entering into a full tendering process. Obviously work had to be suitable for the workforce which placed a further limitation on seeking orders. I honestly do not know whether the failure to achieve orders from local authorities has been because of Poole Council's lack of co-operation and support, whether false hopes were raised by the so called relaxation in the regulations for public procurement or whether other bodies just do not want to engage with Remploy because of a low opinion of the national company. I hope the Minister can throw some light on this.'

Annette has been working hard to save the Remploy factory and has previously spoken in debates on the matter:

'I am passionate about its survival but it has been given an impossible task in the time allowed given all the delays and lack of forward planning as to how we could get from our starting point to a new and sustainable future - hard work has almost saved the day but I suspect we will need more time - I ask the Minister to consider the vulnerable workforce, how they have been treated over this time period, they are not mere loss makers on a balance sheet, they are real people who deserve better from the Government and Remploy.'