§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if Her Majesty's Government have received representations concerning the closure of the Dunlop Semtex factory in Brynmawr, Gwent; whether he will consider investing in the plant; and what discussions he has had with Dunlop Semtex regarding the future of the factory.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI have discussed the problems of Dunlop Semtex with senior management of the Dunlop group. I indicated the Government's readiness to discuss the possibility of selective financial assistance towards investment aimed at safeguarding or creating new employment but Dunlop has concluded that recent events have undermined the whole basis of its Brynmawr operation and that it has no alternaive but to close it completely.