The UK and Scottish governments have revealed that attempts at being made to place orders that would save jobs at bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis in Falkirk and Larbert.

The company’s owner said last month that its Scottish plants are due to close, with the loss of 400 jobs and the relocation of operations to Scarborough in Yorkshire.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar immediately convened a meeting of mayors after the Labour mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham said his authority had bought buses from Alexander Dennis in Falkirk.

This followed revelations that the Scottish government had been buying buses from China. Today Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison said she was working with transport authorities in Scotland and in other parts of the UK to ascertain demand for buses.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has revealed that he is working alongside mayors in England on placing orders with the Falkirk factory.

During prime minister’s questions Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman asked: “Alexander Dennis needs commitment for orders in 2025 and 2026, and elected mayors are ideally placed to do this.

“Where things are made and by whom matters – can the Prime Minister assure Alexander Dennis and its workers that he believes bus manufacturing should have a future in Larbert and Falkirk?”

Sir Keir replied: “This is a deeply concerning time for workers and their families and I do agree.

“We are working with mayors on delivering a pipeline for future orders for zero emission buses, that’s an important aspect here.

“The local transport minister is hosting an urgent meeting with the bus manufacturing expert panel.”

He added: “While Labour mayors in England are ordering Scottish buses, the SNP is ordering buses from China, just like they ordered ferries from Turkey and Poland. The SNP should be backing Scottish workers.”

Scottish government officials have met Alexander Dennis management with regard to a time-limited furlough scheme for the workers to avoid redundancies while new orders are sought.

A consultation on the job losses was extended and will now run until mid-August.

Ms Robison today confirmed that the Scottish Government is liaising with commercial bus operators and local transport authorities to establish the demand for double deck buses in Scotland.

Work is also being carried out to identify opportunities in other parts of the UK, including pressing the UK Government on the detail of its recent announcement of £15.6 billion of funding for local transport projects in England’s city regions as part of the Spending Review.”

Ms Robison said: “This serious situation requires a rapid response to retain manufacturing sites and the valuable jobs supported by ADL and the wider supply chain in Scotland.

“Ministers have been engaged in a sustained dialogue with the company and other interested parties such as the unions for a number of weeks to support Alexander Dennis, and those discussions continue at pace.

“We are regularly reviewing progress and exchanging ideas and information to keep these valued manufacturing jobs here, and I am encouraged by ADL’s commitment to consider chassis manufacture in Scotland.

“We are acutely aware of the importance of securing a short-term pipeline of orders for the company, and we continue to liaise with commercial bus operators and local transport authorities to establish demand for buses in Scotland while working alongside UK Government to identify demand in other parts of the UK.

“We are also pressing the UK Government on the detail of its recent announcement of £15.6 billion funding for local transport projects in England’s city regions as part of the Spending Review.”