27/05/2012 Sunday Politics North East and Cumbria

Under lock East: what are the chances of saving five factories

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1677 seconds

from closer? The latest in half an Welcome to your local park of the

show. Ken has worked at Remploy for 30 years but will anybody save his

job? We will have the latest on the factories under threat of closure.

And we have been closely following the Government's plans for nuclear

energy this week. More on that. First, government plans to

refurbish or rebuild schools across the region. Long-running campaigns

have been rewarded but plenty others have missed out. Labour

pointed out than 92 schools in the air lost funding when it was

cancelled by the coalition and fewer than one third of that number

were successful this time. It has taken a while to get this funding

in place but investment is starting to flow. Do you welcome this.

was no investment in schools in my constituency. St James? That is an

Barrault. -- in Barrow. OK, that was my fault, but still investment

in other areas. The coalition have had to scale back and you would

have had to scale back. We were clear that there would have been

cuts at we had won the election, but not as far and fast as the

coalition. As a constituency MP I would have been making the case to

retain the funding that I secured for schools in meet in my

constituency. I have a good working relationship with the schools. I am

bitterly disappointed not to get funding this time around but this

is not the end of the road for schools and my constituency. It has

taken the best part of two years to come up with this money. And it is

only one thought of the schools there were in line for rebuilding

of ritually. Not a great move, as it? But it is not the end of the

road. What is going to happen which we have announced is that by a

autumn of this year all schools in the country will have a Survey,

they will be audited to to tear when the estate. Then they will be

put into the next spending review for spending and support as we go

on. Jamie pointed out that he did not know what the cuts would have

been with Labour, it would have been 20% at a minimum. Any

government would have faced that. It is unfortunate, but...

children appear in court -- taught in worse and worse condition over

the next few years. They were promised money, where it they?

from a very badly run the programme. Independent auditors noted that it

was extremely expensive. Three of the directors of building schools

for the future, accounted for �750,000 in salary. It was

ridiculous their load of money the programme was wasting on

consultants. Any teacher will tell you that. You Shadow Education

Secretary admitted mistakes with building schools for the future.

was imperfect, that's for sure. But we were dealing with the decades of

under investment in our schools. It is still there. Let's not pretend

that the latest peace deal announcement will in any way make

people jump for joy. Would you come back to put your money in the

schools then? I can come back to work night and day for the money my

constituents need as long as I am a member of parliament. -- I can come

at. Five at Remploy factories will close this summer unless a buyer

can step in. As our correspondent reports the time for rescue is fast

running out. This has been 10 -- this has been Ken's routine for 30

years. He suffers from epilepsy and the crushed foot but continues to

work. I am not interested and benefits, I am interested in

working. I pay bills like everybody else. It is the pride that comes

from being able to do that rather than depend on anybody else.

works at a Remploy factory due to close. Ministers say that the

�25,000 per year that it costs to keep each employee could be better

spent getting them into mainstream employment. 10 is not optimistic. -

- 10. I am not interested in another job. And been disabled, it

would be difficult to get on. would you do Hajar not work here?

It is difficult to contemplate to be honest. I would be with my

parents possibly living the life of a vegetable. Buyers have until 26th

June to decide if they want to take over the factories. Dublin I say

they have had 44 expressions of interest -- Remploy say they have

had 44 expressions of interest. There is a mixed picture at the

factories across our region. But I understand nor interest has been

shown in this site here. Some sources suggest that the site will

shut completely. The closures would not, as a shock to this charity

which has seen a pattern over the last few years. There should be

disabled people working in mainstream employment at they were

but just because they are meant that doesn't mean you can close a

place like Remploy. Sharon claims that she'll be back when she

started with the taxpayer picking up the bill. -- Janet. It costs the

charity -- the taxpayer more to keep us in benefits than it does to

keep us in work. Cuckoo time is running out for the jobs to be kept.

What are the thoughts about the prospects for employees in your

constituency? There is always hope but that ministers should consider

their position in regard to how this has been handled. If there is

no possibility of a reprieve for the factory in all of our

attentions will turn to what we need to do with the workforce and

getting a move to other employment. This will throw people like came on

the scrapheap. Little chance of a new job. But ethos of the

Government is to have a review of how we work with people with

possibilities. Most charities support the move to integrate

people with disabilities into the mainstream workforce. Your point

about 10 per is that the money - �25,000 per mark Walker, -- pair

Walker., would be better spent... Better spent through access to work.

This is part of a thorough review. The government had announced a

transition programme. The bottom line is we have to look at whether

an organisation created 66 years ago which isolates people with

disabilities into a completely artificial environment away from

the mainstream workforce, is that right and appropriate? I do not

believe that it is. People with disabilities have a right to work

alongside every other member of the community. And Labour did close

some of these factories themselves. The principle is fine but I think

there is a world of difference from taking work in areas where

companies are doing well. Of the Remploy factory exists in a

different micro environment. -- every. And it will be exceedingly

tough to get this work falls into mainstream employment. It is a loud

double aim but let's not proclaim that it is easy and announce

arbitrary closures. Can you justify �25,000 per employee to keep them

in jobs? What came the society do you want this to be? -- what kind

of society? This Government knows the price of everything and the

value of nothing. We saw in the film at charities that are

sympathetic to the aim of integrating disabled workers are to

the workforce but saying that it has been done in the wrong way, and

too fast. But the majority supported... But it is easy to do

this in certain areas but in others it will be very tough. That is why

the Government will ring-fence... But if jobs are not in area, what

can you do? Ring-fence money for precisely those individuals and for

support in those factories that to close. But there is a tapering off,

and there will be money going in. But we must accept that it is wrong

in the 21st century to have people with disabilities segregated from

the rest of the community. It is difficult but we need to do it.

Coal-fired power stations are closing. They needed to generate

energy in new ways could not be more pressing. But it will come

with the hefty price tag. By the Energy Secretary was that Tyneside

on Thursday to see insulation work being carried out. The threat of

climate change and the need to keep our lights on for our homes and

businesses means that we have to look at all law car and

technologies - renewables, or nuclear. An opinion poll of 3,000

people in Cumbria will go if some encouragement to the government. It

said that 68% of people agreed with the approach. Some believe that is

a mandate for pressing ahead with the plan. Copeland council was

heavily criticised for taking that decision. But this has given us a

very clear mandate from the people. As the fact that half of all

Cumbrians are in favour of the plan enough to press ahead? The critical

factor is the air will a facility would be placed. My constituency,

where 70% of people are in favour. That is indicative and instructive.

But they do think that the figures across the piece are enough, yes.

It does not tell us if it is safe. Day is no question of safety. If

there was any doubt whatsoever it would be ruled out entirely. It is

in the best interests of the local economy and the whole Cumbria.

imposing this levy, it is a subsidy, isn't it? But people must realise

we import around 50% of our energy. What price do we pay too insular

that we have energy we need? We have got to take radical action.

Nuclear as part of the Max but what I will accept as a criticism of the

coalition is the we have not taken the necessary steps and building

regulations. If we improve building regulations, mandatory solar power,

argues say around 75% energy bills for each house in the country.

it should consumers pay a levy on their bills to subsidise an

industry that you pay for itself? have always been very clear that I

support subsidies for Nuclear. It is a difficult debate but must be

had. Every Energis also receives a subsidy of some kind from

government and the consumer. It must be acknowledged that the days

of cheap energy are over. That is a tough message for your constituents.

It is a tough message for everybody in the country. But those most

vulnerable to high bills should still not be unprotected. There

must be work from government to make sure that those least able to

pay are protected and do the seats of discounts. Well government plans

be enough to see this new generation of power stations come

into place? Some developers pulled out. The provision within the draft

energy bill to -- is precisely the right thing. It is what we as a

government would have done and that is what the industry are calling

for. There is hard work ahead to see you nuclear revival but this is

certainly a step in the right direction. I expect to see some has

significant investment decisions within the next few years.

reality is that if we put a lot more effort into saving energy this

crisis would not be as bad. Absolutely. That is the point I was

making about building regulations. We could make them 75% more fuel-

efficient. I do not think any government has done enough on that.

We need to be radical. In terms of building speculation, building

regulations. We are still building houses, basically, in this country,

the same style as 150 years ago. That cannot be good. Any more

windfarms? I am on a planning position and that puts me in a

difficult position. I am in favour of offshore, in short, I will take

each application as it comes. is the week in 60 seconds. Cumbrian

Seafoods announced the closure of two factories with loss of 280 jobs.

Better news on Teesside, is the Secretary Vince Cable was at a

steel plant and said the Return of steelmaking shows the region can

return to its glory days. Britain already has a flexible, co-

operative labour force. We see that here. A warning for ministers from

a four or Paralympian that cuts in disability benefits will prevent

disabled people getting into sport. And at Durham MP also had child

benefit concerns. This is a real mess and one more aspect of a

shambolic budget that must be changed. That is about all from us.