Jobs saved at Remploy factories

No disabled workers at Remploy factories in Scotland will be made compulsorily redundant, according to the work and pensions secretary. Forty two UK factories - including three sites in Wishaw, Glasgow and Aberdeen - were earmarked for closure. Peter Hain told the Labour Party conference that ministers would make the final decision.

Unions had been threatening a vote on the issue which could have resulted in a possible defeat for Labour. Mr Hain told delegates in Bournemouth that the UK Government had set aside half a billion pounds to ensure a future for the factories.

He said: "No factory closures will take place without the agreement of government ministers. There will be no compulsory redundancies for Remploy's disabled workers. Salaries will be guaranteed and pensions protected."

The disabled employment service announced in May that it would shut 43 of its UK sites and merge others as part of a reorganisation of the company. Remploy said it wanted to put 2,270 of its 5,000 disabled employees into mainstream employment. Up to 125 people work at the Remploy sites due to close in Aberdeen, Wishaw and Hillington in Glasgow.

The GMB, Unite and Community unions had called for the sites to stay open and launched a UK-wide campaign of marches and protests in the run-up to this week's Labour conference in Bournemouth.