Valleys-based Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood has urged the Welsh Government to press for the devolution of the budget for Remploy to protect workers’ jobs in Wales.

The South Wales Central AM’s call came as the Welsh Government pledged to restate its opposition to any Remploy factory closures.

Leanne Wood, who raised the issue in a question to Finance Minister Jane Hutt, said: “The economic situation is dire. Unemployment is rising fast throughout Wales and the market has failed to provide jobs in some areas since the end of heavy industry, so the chances of the private sector filling the gaps left by the public sector in terms of jobs are very slim.”

Leanne Wood asked the Finance Minister: “Do you accept that the market has failed to provide jobs and will continue to fail communities in Wales? If you do accept market failure, do you agree that the Government should intervene where the market has failed? Will you support the devolution of the budget for Remploy factories so that supported employment, which is vital for some people in our communities, can continue to be provided throughout the whole of Wales?”

The Plaid AM has also written to Education Minister Leighton Andrews to ask the Welsh Government to support devolution of the Welsh Remploy factories budget.

In a written answer earlier Leighton Andrews had told Leanne Wood that he would be providing a comprehensive report to the UK Government Sayce Review consultation on Remploy.

“I will reaffirm our position that Remploy factories and offices are important for Wales and restate the Welsh Government’s opposition to any proposed closures. I also intend to continue our dialogue with DWP (Department of Work & Pensions) at a Ministerial level on this matter.”

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