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Disability charities have praised proposals to give more disabled people supported job placements in the community.

The suggestion came last week in a report into the future of Remploy, the national agency that provides employment and support for 9,000 disabled people.

The report, ordered by the government after a National Audit Office study last October, found Remploy would not be able to continue to operate within its existing budget, outlined four options for the organisation, including closure of its 83 factories.

But this was ruled out by the government, which ordered Remploy to modernise and guaranteed its current £111m annual budget for five years.

Mencap campaigns manager Carol Herrity said: "We strongly favour supported employment in real, paid jobs in a mainstream, non-segregated environment where people are part of their community."

Catherine A'Bear, director of corporate affairs at the Shaw Trust, said: "We believe that, wherever possible, disabled people should be able to be part of the mainstream of society, and that means working in the same workplaces as non-disabled people."

Additional information
For a special report on the Remploy review go to www.communitycare.co.uk/remploy
Remploy - Review of Future Business Opportunities