MP calls for help for Bombardier staff facing redundancy
14th July 2011
Pauline Latham calls on the Business Secretary to meet with members ofthe Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum to discuss how to help those made redundant from Bombardier and how to ensure procurement rules benefit UK companies.
Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): Will the Secretary of State meet me and members of the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum to talk about how we can help those who are made redundant from Bombardier, how Bombardier can move forward and get further contracts, and how we can make sure that procurement rules benefit the people of this country as well as those abroad?
Vince Cable: The hon. Lady is absolutely right about the procurement rules. As I said, we are taking an initiative to try to address an anomaly whereby Britain appears to be uniquely open in relation to other European countries. Regarding the work force who are, sadly, affected by these redundancies, I have already announced the launching of a taskforce in Derby led by a former senior executive of Rolls-Royce to try to mobilise assistance.