News round up - Remploy plans factory closures and life with a 'bionic body'
Remploy - which provides sheltered work for people with disabilities - is planning to shut 36 of its 54 factories. More than 1,700 jobs are at risk.
Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller said the sites could be closed by the end of the year as they were not financially viable.
Shortly after the Remploy announcement, Labour MP Liam Byrne tweeted, "The welfare reform bill has been law for a week. And the govt has immediately moved to close 2/3 of Remploy factories. Wrong plan wrong time".
Mark Goldring, Chief Executive of Mencap, said that it is a deeply sad moment when anyone with a disability loses their jobs. But he welcomed any plans to promote more employment of disabled people in the wider economy.
Elsewhere in the news:
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MMR doctor wins High Court appeal - BBC News
Human stem cells 'help blind rats' - BBC News
Big range in diabetes amputations revealed in England - BBC News
'Day in the life with my bionic body' - BBC News
PC David Rathband's brother Darren recalls their last conversation - BBC News
Legal aid reforms: peers inflict fresh defeats on government - The Guardian
Alzheimer's patients 'should stay on drugs for longer' - BBC News
Susan Boyle: I can take whatever Ricky Gervais says... he's the one with the problem not me - The Sun
Disability allowance claimant 'received £38,000 while taking part in golf competitions and cycling one-handed' - The Daily Mail
Are Sun readers ready to 'Beat the Cheat' armed with the facts? - Comment is Free, The Guardian
London 2012: Audio commentary for Paralympic ceremonies - BBC News
Hearing dogs are changing deaf children's lives - BBC News
Lover offered me £2,000 to abort our Down's boy... but look how full of life he is now! - The Sun
Dancing On Ice's bizarre subtitles criticised by Deaf Children's Society - The Metro
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