BOOKHAM TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER'S VISIT TO CHINA

Early day motion 760, tabled 22 February 2005 by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 3 members.

That this House notes that during the Chancellor of the Exchequer's visit to the Futan Free Trade Zone of Shenzhen he visited a Bookham Technology manufacturing plant that is in the process of taking over work from the Bookham Technology manufacturing plant in Paignton, Devon, a plant that at its peak in 2000 employed over 6,000 people in all-year-round well-paid jobs that were vital to a local economy dominated by tourism with its seasonal employment patterns and low pay; questions whether he was aware that what he was witnessing in China was the destination point of the latest batch of 600 jobs from the Paignton plant that has now lost a total of 5,600 manufacturing jobs during the period of his Chancellorship; and therefore calls on the Chancellor to make a statement to the House on his return to explain how these jobs and the income levels they generated are going to be replaced in Torbay and South Devon.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 2, DUP 1.