Extracts from Commons debate on Covid-19: Support for UK Industries - June 25
Friday, 26 June 2020 06:55
Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP):...The
Government’s actions to save jobs through the job retention scheme
by allowing workers to be furloughed was universally welcomed,
although there were too many gaps in it, which was deeply unfair to
workers who fell through those cracks. But the current plan to
reduce support for furloughed workers and self-employed people is
sending unemployment soaring. The plans to cut back on furlough
support has seen tens of thousands of jobs lost...Request free trial
(North Ayrshire and Arran)
(SNP):...The Government’s actions to save jobs through
the job retention scheme by allowing workers to be furloughed was
universally welcomed, although there were too many gaps in it,
which was deeply unfair to workers who fell through those cracks.
But the current plan to reduce support for furloughed workers and
self-employed people is sending unemployment soaring. The plans to
cut back on furlough support has seen tens of thousands of jobs
lost before our eyes: 9,000 jobs at Rolls-Royce;
10,000 jobs at BP; 5,000 jobs at Centrica; 10,000 jobs at British
Airways; more than 3,000 jobs at Virgin Atlantic; 2,600 jobs at OVO
Energy; 2,500 jobs at Travis Perkins—I literally do not have time
to go through the thousands of jobs that are being lost...
(Bethnal Green and Bow)
(Lab): I welcome the chance to debate the
support we provide to industries and the many sectors hit hard by
this pandemic. We are braced for the worst economic downturn for
many decades, if not centuries. Many thousands of jobs are at risk
of being lost or are likely to be lost, including at Centrica,
Nissan, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. We are talking about
plans to cut some 12,000 jobs. At Rolls-Royce and
many other companies all over the country, many of our constituents
will be affected. Some 10% of the population could face
unemployment; 1 million young people are likely to face
unemployment by the end of the year...
(Coventry North West)
(Lab):...Let me turn first to the job losses
at Rolls-Royce in Ansty. The
UK’s aerospace sector is world-leading, supporting hundreds of jobs
directly in my constituency through the supply chain.
Rolls-Royce’s announcement to cut 65 jobs from its
workforce of 167 at Ansty is hugely disappointing. The site is
renowned for its expertise, being the only one that can weld the
veins of plane propellers. From my conversations with staff and
union reps at the site, I understand that they fear the company is
using coronavirus as an excuse to ship jobs outside the UK, and to
rehire staff on worse contracts here and abroad. There are also
concerns that this move has been in the works, as their pensions
will also change. Is this what the Government meant by global
Britain—allowing companies such as Rolls-Royce to receive
research and development funding, and job retention money, while
they ship British jobs overseas?
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
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