Labour’s Islwyn MP Chris Evans has added to calls for the UK Government to devolve responsibility for Remploy factories to Wales.
Croespenmaen’s Remploy site is one of the seven Welsh factories identified as being unviable without Government funding and has been earmarked for closure.
Since the announcement in March, Mr Evans has visited the plant and spoken to workers concerned with their futures.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Evans said: “We have already heard the Minister say that the disability budget is going to be ring-fenced at £320 million, so what do the Government have to lose by devolving that budget to the Welsh Assembly?
“To me, this is a no-brainer. If it works, 44 people in the Croespenmaen factory will keep their jobs. If it fails, the Government can do what they have always done and blame the Labour Government.”
Soon after March’s announcement of the closures, First Minister Carwyn Jones wrote to Prime Minister David Cameron after the latter said he would consider devolving Remploy’s budget.
The First Minister said at the time: “Such a move would allow us to develop a range of options to support workers at the factories. We want to create a lasting solution. Workers at Remploy are some of the most disadvantaged in society and we want to explore all options to help them.”
Plaid Cymru has also called for the Remploy budget to be devolved to Wales.
Remploy’s factory in Croespenmaen, which operates a printing and packaging business and employs 44 people including 43 disabled employees