Swinney talks
Hopes rise of new bus work for Alexander Dennis
The Scottish Government said it is actively exploring a package which could deliver new work to Alexander Dennis’s threatened Scottish facilities.
Details remain commercially sensitive and subject to further discussions and due diligence to assess viability, said the government.
Alexander Dennis’s owner has said the Falkirk and Larbert plants may close, as it switches production to Scarborough in North Yorkshire.
First Minister John Swinney has asked the company to consider an extension to its consultation period while the government package is developed.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will meet trade unions GMB and Unite today to update them on the proposal.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop will attend a meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel in London – also taking place today – which will focus on the future pipeline of zero-emission bus orders.
The announcement follows accusations that the Scottish government contributed to the difficulties at Alexander Dennis by buying buses from China. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has convened a summit of mayors from England to consider placing orders with the Scottish factory.
Commenting on the latest develoment, Mr Swinney said: “Scottish Ministers place the utmost importance on the presence of Alexander Dennis in Scotland and the retention of its highly-skilled manufacturing workers.
“The Scottish Government has committed to exploring any and all viable options throughout the consultation period to allow the firm to retain its skilled employees and manufacturing and production facilities.
“While I cannot provide details due to commercial sensitivity at this time, I hope this update provides the workforce and local community with further assurance that the Scottish Government remains wholly committed to supporting the future of bus manufacturing in Scotland.
“We will undertake this work in tandem with every other short, medium and long-term opportunity we continue to explore in close collaboration with the company, Unite, GMB, Scottish Enterprise, Transport Scotland and the UK Government.”
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Buying buses from China makes no sense. The London Mayor is one of the main culprits with London streets being flooded with them when UK built vehicles are available.
This is what you get when Govt’s don’t consider the consequences of procuring from indigenous businesses. Rather ironic that the Scottish Govt now want to be bailed out of their mistake by asking English and Welsh transport authorities to buy Scottish.
Presumably,councils are duty bound to accept the cheapest bid if the issued specification for the bus is successfully met. Its surely not the Counci’s job to cross subsidise British industry.
They would have been better spending the money on the bus company than on trump
Maybe people should remember that they closed walter Alexander’s bus plant in ni to prop up the falkirk plant c30 years ago.