Scottish Government accuses Remploy chiefs of jeopardising efforts to save Scottish jobs

By SCOTT MACNAB
Published on 29/11/2012 10:12

THE Scottish Government today accused Remploy bosses of jeopardising efforts to save Scottish jobs over “unnecessary secrecy” in crunch negotiations.

• 49 Remploy workers at the Springburn factory are at risk of redundancy

• Enterprise minister Fergus Ewing wants Remploy and the Department for Work and Pensions to hold off before a ‘full and independent review’

• Mr Ewing revealed he receives greater co-operation from private sector firms facing trouble

It was announced earlier this week that 49 workers are at risk of redundancy at the firm’s Springburn factory in Glasgow.

Enterprise minister Fergus Ewing wants Remploy and the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions to hold off before a “full and independent review”.

And he told MSPs today that he receives greater co-operation from private sector firms who have run into trouble.

“We’ve worked with them, we’ve got round the table with them, we’ve received assistance from them and in some cases they’ve gone out of their way to be helpful,” he said.

“Sadly that has not been a characteristic of dealing with the Remploy Phase 1. There has been unnecessary secrecy and that’s not simply a view that’s been expressed by the Scottish Government – it’s a view that’s been expressed by some of the companies that have participated in the process.

“Companies who themselves, by signing up to non-disclosure agreements, were not permitted to discuss any matters – apparently not even with the Scottish Government or MSPs.

He said this makes it “very difficult” for enterprise agencies who are “there to help and see if they can find a solution for carrying on a business, whether it’s a social enterprise, even an employee buy-put or as part of a new commercially owned enterprise.

“These are solutions where it’s easier to explore with full co-operation of those who are handling the tendering process. Sadly in this case it was not possible for us to proceed in the way that we’ve desired.”