“I was very concerned to learn from Roll Royce that they have started discussions with the Ansty workforce to jointly decide the best way forward for the site, and that one of the options includes a progressive run down of Defence Services work.
I have been in contact with the company to seek reassurances that, firstly, any changes will be introduced without the need for compulsory redundancies and, secondly, that the Civil Aerospace work carried out at the site will not be affected. I note that the company have issued a statement on these matters.
I will be pleased to work with Union Representatives and other politicians across the region to ensure that the impact on workers at Ansty is minimised.
The background to the company’s announcement is regrettable. All companies involved in the supply of goods and services to the UK Defence sector have been aware for some time that there will inevitable reductions in the levels of demand from the Armed Forces. For many years under the last Labour Government there was a lack of control of defence spending which led to a £38 billion black hole in the defence budget.”