Remploy closures - good or bad?

Fergus Hewison Politics Show BBC North East and Cumbria

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In 2007, 29 Remploy factories closed. Did the decision to shut them make life better, or worse, for the disabled people who worked there?

In post war Britain, Remploy was set up to provide jobs for injured ex-servicemen.

For the next 60 years it gave work to disabled people who may have found it hard to get employment elsewhere.

Its factories produced furniture, clothing, and other goods - and the chances are you have, at some time, worn, sat on or used something made in one of them.

But in 2006, the government - which funds Remploy - announced that cuts were to be made and factories would close.

Changing attitudes

It argued that this was not just a cost cutting measure, though Remploy was losing money, but that changing attitudes mean many disabled people prefer to work in mainstream employment, rather than the sheltered employment that Remploy offers.

Controversially, some charities supported Remploy's plans - among them Mencap and Scope, who said disabled people were more likely to lead fulfilling lives by working in an "inclusive environment".

More fulfilling lives in an 'inclusive environment'?

Remploy workers and trade unions launched a fierce campaign against the planned closures, claiming it was simply a cost cutting exercise that would leave many people unable to find work at all.

Despite this, in 2007 it was announced that 29 factories and sites - including those in Hartlepool, Jarrow, Stockton and York - would close.

'Modernisation' programme

No disabled person was made compulsorily redundant, but over 2,000 workers did take voluntary redundancy, say unions.

Remploy argues that its "modernisation", or closure, programme will enable it to find 20,000 mainstream jobs each year for people with disabilities and health conditions.

But trade unions have said the closures were completely unnecessary, with some workers saying they feel "betrayed" by the government.

A demonstration in York will hear calls for the Remploy clothing factory in that city to be re-opened.

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