Government needs to do more to support our manufacturers, says Weston MP John Penrose
July 13 2009
Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose criticised the Government for failing British manufacturers in the House of Commons last week, before visiting a South West factory to hear about the problems local manufacturers are facing first hand.
During the debate in the House of Commons, the Weston MP and Shadow Business Minister criticised the Government for allowing 152,000 British manufacturing jobs to be lost each year and for allowing a long-term decline in manufacturing relative to other countries. Now that the recession has kicked in, the Weston MP said that fundamental underlying problems needed to be addressed if the sector was to survive and called for simpler tax laws, investment in skills, a more straightforward planning process and moves to help fight energy price volatility.
The day after the debate Mr Penrose visited local manufacturer Woodberry Bros & Haines Limited to hear first hand the problems local manufacturers are facing. The number of manufacturing jobs in the South West has decreased by 22,000 in the last three years, from 250,000 in March 2006 to 238,000 in March 2009.
John Penrose said: "Manufacturing has been a core part of this country's economy and employment for many years. But despite its importance we've seen a massive decline relative to other countries like Germany, especially over the last decade.
"Unfortunately, the South West hasn't escaped either and we've lost over 20,000 manufacturing jobs in the last three years alone. The bad news is that unless the Government acts soon and deals with the impact the recession is having on the sector, the situation is going to get worse.
"I was delighted to visit Woodberry Bros & Haines Limited to hear first hand the problems they are facing and what we can do to tackle them. I've presented the Government with a series of measures which should provide some of the answers. Manufacturing is vital for this country's long-term economic future and to get us out of the recession, so I do hope that the Government listens to manufacturers and takes the points I have presented on board."
