Jo Swinson MP highlights Flexible Ducting at Westminster (Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats)

Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats <info@aberdeensouthlibdems.org.uk>

Jo Swinson MP highlights Flexible Ducting at Westminster

December 19, 2008 10:45 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

The job losses affecting workers at Flexible Ducting in Milngavie have been highlighted by Jo Swinson MP during a debate in the House of Commons.

Ms Swinson raised the impact that the current recession is having on families in Bearsden and Milngavie and called for investment in environmental initiatives to kick-start the UK economy.Jo Swinson MP: East Dunbartonshire

Challenging Treasury Minister Yvette Cooper in the House of Commons, Jo Swinson said:

"The economic downturn is hitting East Dunbartonshire hard. Flexible Ducting has announced the closure of its Milngavie plant with the loss of 85 jobs, and unemployment has risen by 36% in the past year. Instead of tinkering with a VAT cut, surely the Chancellor should invest the money to kick-start the economy by investing in green initiatives to create jobs, cut energy bills and tackle climate change."

Commenting later, Ms Swinson said:

"Job losses, and the very harsh consequences that go with them, are hitting Bearsden and Milngavie. For people who need money in their pocket now, the Chancellor's VAT cut will do precious little. It amounts to a 50p cut in a £25 restaurant bill, and we have already seen shops themselves cutting prices by far more of their own accord.

"Instead, the tax system needs to be made fairer on a permanent basis, with income tax cuts for people on low and middle incomes.

"Further to this, Nick Clegg has outlined a 'green road out of recession', that will boost the UK economy and keep up the momentum to tackle climate change. Paid for by scrapping the Chancellor's ineffectual VAT cut, the plan would see investment in green schemes to make homes warmer, cut energy bills and improve public transport.

"Investing in insulating people's homes will help thousands of residents whose heating bills have gone through the roof in the past year, at the same time as creating jobs and protecting the environment."

Notes:

Text of Swinson's question in the Commons, along with the Minister's reply:

Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD): The economic downturn is hitting East Dunbartonshire hard. Flexible Ducting has announced the closure of its Milngavie plant with the loss of 85 jobs, and unemployment has risen by 36 per cent. in the past year. Instead of tinkering, with a VAT cut, surely the Chancellor should invest the money to kick-start the economy by investing in green initiatives to create jobs, cut energy bills and tackle climate change.

Yvette Cooper: I agree with the hon. Lady that we want to keep investing to support green jobs. That is a great opportunity for us for the future; it is certainly an issue on which the new Department is working hard. We need to continue to invest in things such as the capital projects. That is why a major part of the fiscal stimulus was bringing forward capital programmes to support jobs. However, it is also right to put money into people's pockets right now, very quickly, to help support the economy. Hon. Members on both sides should recognise that the scale of the economic challenges that face every single country in the world means that we have to take a whole range of measures. That is the best way to get the kind of action that we need and to help us come through this situation faster.