19 September 2011
Jim McGovern, MP for Dundee West, and Jenny Marra, MSP for the North East Region, visited the Dundee Remploy factory today.
This visit comes as pressure increases on the UK government to reconsider the recommendations made in the Sayce report to end government support for the historic company.
Jim McGovern last week called on the Secretary of State for Scotland to do all he could to support the company’s operations in Scotland, and in June this year Mr McGovern met with Peter Luff MP, Minister for Procurement and Equipment at the Ministry of Defence, about the future of defence contracts to Remploy.
The Dundee factory primarily produces protective clothing for the armed forces.
Jim McGovern said;
"Today’s meeting was very productive.
"It was great to be able to meet with the management team, trade union representatives from the GMB and Community unions, as well as the fantastic workforce.
"It is clear that there is a consensus amongst all those involved that if the UK government follows the recommendations made in the Sayce report then jobs are likely to be lost.
"Given the important opportunities and jobs offered by Remploy, as well as the current economic situation, this would be unacceptable."
Mr McGovern concluded,
"When parliament returns after the conference recess I will be calling for the Remploy parliamentary group of MPs to meet as soon as possible, so we can co-ordinate our efforts with the company and the unions in order to save Remploy jobs across the UK."
Jenny Marra MSP said,
"Today I saw how valuable Remploy is for the people that work there.
"We cannot afford to be closing supported workplaces at a time of recession when the employees will struggle to find jobs elsewhere.
"I will continue to work with the staff and employees of Remploy to highlight the dangers of job losses implied within the Government’s Sayce report, and I will do everything I can in the Scottish Parliament to save Remploy in Scotland."