Employment Support

Frank Doran Excerpts

Wednesday 7th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. There are still a lot of Members wanting to get in. We therefore want short questions and short answers.

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

No one will be surprised to hear that the workers in my local factory were devastated by today’s news. They feel particularly angry because for the past two years, the management and the work force have been working together to try to develop a social enterprise that would include not only the Remploy workers but other voluntary organisations around the city. They have gone a long way down the road to achieving that, but there is now huge uncertainty. My reading of the literature that has been produced today is that the factories are to be closed, which means that—

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. I will say it loudly this time: we want short questions, please, not speeches. Mr Doran, a question—now!

[Mr Doran]

I would love to make a speech, but I am trying to avoid one. The future of the factory is crucial. There is a possibility of saving jobs in Aberdeen, so will the Minister confirm what will happen to the factories?

[Maria Miller]

We are going into a 90-day consultation on phase 1 factories. If individuals want to come forward because they feel that there are opportunities to reduce the level of redundancies, Remploy would obviously be pleased to look at them.