VAUXHALL MOTORS

That this House notes that the Vauxhall car plant at Ellesmere Port and the GM van plant at Luton are subject to a change of ownership following the restructuring of General Motors (GM) Europe; further notes that these are two of the most profitable and efficient plants of their type in Europe and that some 5,000 directly employed jobs and 20,000 indirectly employed jobs depend on their continuing in production; recognises that the global recession has seen sales in the car and commercial vehicles sectors fall substantially, but considers the jobs and skills associated with these plants to be essential to the economy and to manufacturing in the UK and that these plants will be vital to meet increased demand as the economy emerges from recession; welcomes the actions taken by Government both within the negotiations and by providing a much-needed scrappage scheme; rejects comments by the hon. Member for Twickenham, who has stated that the Government `cannot afford a bailout, neither is it desirable'; and calls on the Government to continue to assist by facilitating urgent discussions with the new owners of GM Europe to enable local management and trade union representatives to demonstrate the strength of the UK plants as well as to make available financial support where appropriate to support jobs, skills and continued production in these high quality and vital UK plants and the wider supply chain.