§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the future of the Remploy Factory in Barnsley; what disposal strategy has been agreed; and to what extent the workforce has been affected. [HL 165]
§ The parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)Remploy is planning to move its operations to a new site on the Fallbank industrial estate later this year. This is within two miles of their existing location, with good public transport and road links and provides an opportunity to ensure Remploy continues in Barnsely with more modern premises and prospects for increased workloading. The new site forms part of the Remploy modernisation strategy and will increase opportunities for the training and development of more disabled people in Barnsley. This approach is entirely in line with the Government's new Workstep programme which seeks to provide more opportunities for disabled people in the labour market.
Remploy is currently in discussion with the local authority about the disposal of its existing site in Pogmoor and has had extensive discussions with the employees and trade unions in the present Barnsley site about the proposed move. The management in Remploy advises me that these discussions have been positive and constructive and that there is full support for the move to the new location from their employees.