Bill Kidd MSP for Glasgow and former disability reporter on the Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee has today reacted with anger at the decision by the UK Borders Agency’s decision to terminate its contract with Glasgow City Council for the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers and the knock on effect this will have on the Blindcraft Workshop in Glasgow. As a result of the decision workers at the factory now face an uncertain future with many facing the prospect of being made redundant. This is a result of the fact that the Blindcraft Workshop manufactures the furniture used in Asylum Seekers accommodation and it also leases part of its warehouse as storage to Glasgow City Council’s Social Work department for the personal possessions of asylum Seekers.

Now that Glasgow City Council will no longer provide accommodation for Asylum Seekers there is serious concern that the workshop will lose these contracts and as a result have no choice but to lay workers off.

Specialising in manufacturing a wide range of furniture products for public and private sector organisations, Blincraft is also dedicated to ‘making a difference’ in the community. From its roots as a supported facility for the visually impaired, Blindcraft is today committed to providing opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as helping towards the economic regeneration of the local community and beyond.

Commenting Bill Kidd said: "This ill-thought out action by UKBA is affecting not only asylum seekers and refugees who are being treated in an uncivilised and off-hand manner but also over 40 employees, most of them disabled, of City Building and Blindcraft whose jobs depend on work related to Glasgow’s contract to house asylum seekers

"Disabled Glaswegians will lose their jobs if Glasgow City Council lose this contract with the Borders Agency. This must be overturned."

Note:

S3M-7430 Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): UKBA Contract Impact on Supported Employment
That the Parliament expresses serious concern regarding what it sees as the knock-on effect of the UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) decision to cancel its accommodation contract with Glasgow City Council and, in particular, the impact on the Blindcraft workshop that manufactures furniture used in asylum seekers’ accommodation and the part of its warehouse that is used as a store by social work services for personal possessions of asylum seekers; considers that, as a result of the UKBA’s decision, jobs at the workshop are threatened, with many of the workers being disabled people who will have difficulty securing work elsewhere, and calls on the UK Government to reverse its decision.