Pendle peer calls on Government to 'take more action' over threats to Barnoldswick Rolls-Royce plant

It has been reported that the possible closure of Barnoldswick's historic Rolls-Royce plant could have a £1 billion hit to the regional economy.

Lord Greaves, also a Pendle councillor, asked: “Do the Government understand that this is a catastrophe for high-tech manufacturing in the UK, for the retention of a skilled workforce, some of whom went to Singapore to help set up there on the promise that it would not affect their own jobs?

"Also, for the critical mass of the aerospace industry of East Lancashire, with some 22,000-plus workers and four to five times as many ancillary workers; and for the future of the small north-of-England town of Barnoldswick, which was the birthplace of the jet engine and is a genuine centre of engineering excellence?

"Is it not time for the Government to take more action and to take back control?”

This was after the Conservative Government Minister Lord Callanan (the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) had told him that “the Government are in regular dialogue with Rolls-Royce and will continue to engage to understand what more can be done to save jobs and capabilities across the United Kingdom.

"The Government is supporting the aviation and aerospace sectors with around £9.5 billion in grants, loans and export guarantees over the next three years, which will help to create new, well-paid jobs for decades to come."

In response to Lord Greaves’ follow-up question, Lord Callanan said: “I totally understand and sympathise with the points that the noble Lord is making, but Rolls-Royce is a global company and it is having to make some very difficult decisions about its footprint everywhere as demand for its products and services has fallen significantly in the current pandemic. As I said, we are offering significant support to it and other aerospace companies.”

Lord Greaves said after the short debate that he was very disappointed that in response to his question – and to questions from other Lords who asked about the effect on Barnoldswick and East Lancashire, the Minister failed to respond in any way. He said that Lord Callanan also seemed to think the Rolls-Royce plan was due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which the company has said is not the case.

He said after the debate: “The Government may well care about British aerospace production as a whole but they do not seem to care two hoots about the impact on Barnoldswick and East Lancashire. I will continue to raise it with them whenever I can and support the campaign by the local workforce and Unite.”