Reading Comprehension (RC) | Re: Acting on the recommendation of a British government

Hi Gmatninja, Gmatninja2,
I have a query regarding understanding of words - contend and concur in this passage.
Contend means to argue and concur means to be in harmony with.
My query is regarding part in bold, if SPEW opposes initial proposal of home secretary that women should be stopped from working in lead factories due to high chance of illness,
How can concur we place another contrasting word concur so adjacent to WIDC which in fact also opposes home secretary's proposal?

SPEW contended,