Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to work with Remploy factory workers since the factory closure programme began; how many former Remploy factory employees are now in mainstream work; and how many former Remploy employees have been supported by the Access to Work scheme since the factory closure programme began.

For all disabled former Remploy workers made redundant as a result of factory closures, the Government put in place the £8 million guaranteed People Help and Support Package (PHSP). The support package provides help to each affected disabled former employee for up to 18 months from the date they left Remploy.

The PHSP includes one-to-one support from a personal case worker to identify suitable help to find work including access to advice, and a personal budget. Personal budget awards can pay for items such as training, tools and equipment. After 18 months is complete, specialist support will continue to be available, usually from the same specialist employment advisor.

Former employees have also been referred to Community Support Fund projects where, in areas affected by factory closures, local organisations support former Remploy workers to move into employment and take part in social activities.

Latest figures show that 1,506 disabled former Remploy workers are choosing to work with our personal case workers to find another job and 774 are in work. 259 disabled former Remploy employees have been supported by the Access to Work scheme since they left the factories.