Minister delays Remploy reports

Staff at a company funded to employ disabled people will have to wait longer than expected to learn about their future, the government announced last week.

Disability minister Anne McGuire told parliament that the final report into Remploy, which had been due on 31 May, had been delayed after she had ordered further investigations.

She admitted this would “prolong uncertainty for Remploy employees” but said more information was needed before a decision was taken.

Last month, the Transport and General Workers Union wrote to chancellor Gordon Brown complaining the review was putting disabled staff under unnecessary stress (news).

The review was prompted by a highly critical National Audit Office report last autumn, which said that Remploy jobs did not provide value for money for the taxpayer (news).