§ Ms HarmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he plans to meet representatives of the management of Rowntree, trade unions representing employees at Rowntree and other interested parties in relation to the proposed closure of the Nestles-Rowntree factor in Norwich; [24756]
(2) what discussions his Department has had with the Department of Employment and other Government Departments concerning the proposed closure of the Nestles-Rowntree factory in Norwich and the effect of the closure on the local economy; [24758]
(3) if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the Nestles-Rowntree factory in Norwich; [24759]
(4) how many jobs in total will be lost in Norwich and the surrounding areas as a result of the proposed closure of the Nestles-Rowntree factory in Norwich; [24755]
(5) what representations he has received regarding the proposed closure of the Nestles-Rowntree factory in Norwich. [24757]
§ Mr. Jonathan Evans[holding answers 17 May 7995]: Neither my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has had representations about the proposed closure of the factory. Nor do we have any immediate plans to make a statement on the proposed closure of the factory. The closure decision was taken on purely commercial grounds and is expected to involve the loss of some 900 jobs. We have no plans to meet with the management of Nestle or with the trade unions at the plant. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade hopes, however, to visit Norwich in the autumn and in the course of his visit expects to hear at first hand more about the impact of the closure and the immediate and longer-term response of the business and other communities in the town. Since the closure announcement was made, the Government office for eastern region, which embraces the Departments of Trade and Industry, of Employment, of the Environment and of Transport, has kept closely in touch with business, local government and 429W the training and enterprise council in Norwich and is providing help and advice to the emerging partnership which is addressing economic development and competitiveness in the area.