THE Welsh Government has come out fighting against any potential closures on Remploy factories.

Sixty-three people work at the Remploy factories in Croespenmaen and Cwmtillery, and have disabilities ranging from blindness and Down’s syndrome to depression and learning difficulties.

They were left concerned after a review of disability employment for the UK government found Remploy is “not the model for the 21st century”.

The reviewrecommended government funding is withdrawn in favour of supporting individuals in mainstream employment.

But workers were given yesterday when the Welsh Government’s minister for education and skills, Leighton Andrews, released a statement confirming support of the factories.

Mr Andrews said he and the Welsh Government disagree with any factory closures in Wales and will “vigorously oppose” such closures.

He said he has requested the UK government reconsiders some of the review’s conclusions and some of the evidence should be analysed in more detail.

The minister said he accepts Remploy needs to change to reflect the changing economic and labour market conditions but believes there are alternatives to closing the factories, and that it would be unfair to remove it from the choices available to disabled people.

He said the responsibility will ultimately lie with the UK government.