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A MINISTER has defended the Government's record on getting disabled people into work, a year on from the closure of three state-subsidised factories.

Last year, 186 jobs at Remploy, a Government-owned company employing disabled people, were lost when factories in Stockton, Hartlepool and York closed. Nationally, 28 of Remploy's 83 factories were shut.

The move provoked anger among staff, unions and campaigners and led to industrial action.

But on Thursday of last week, James Purnell, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said for the cost of every Remploy employee, the Government could get five disabled people into work.

"If it's a choice between helping five times fewer people into work, it's absolutely clear you're going to help the most.

"We've increased the investment in Remploy but we need to respond to the rising expectations of disabled people."

The Remploy restructuring was overseen by Mr Purnell's predecessor, Peter Hain.

Last month, Remploy chief executive Bob Warner said he hoped high street firms in the North-East would find mainstream work for 500 disabled people each year.

Mr Purnell was speaking during a visit to Finchale Training College, near Durham, where he spoke to Toni Sewell, who suffers from severe dyslexia but has secured work as a joiner after training at the college.

Miss Sewell, 19, said: "My training at Finchale College really turned my life around, and now I have a new job to look forward to. I am really grateful to the college and to Jobcentre Plus for their help and support. I would have struggled without them."

Mr Purnell said: "I'm delighted to be visiting what is considered one of the country's leading providers of vocational rehabilitation training services.

"The fact trainees come from across Great Britain for specialist support here shows there's a lot we can learn from the work they do."

1:31pm Friday 27th June 2008

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