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'Fighting for Jobs'

West Midlands MEP: “Support for car industry must not neglect component manufacturers”

The Labour MEP for the West Midlands, Neena Gill, in a speech to the European Parliament has welcomed a Parliament statement calling for a united European response to help the troubled car industry.

Neena said: “The industry is a model for the way sectors will survive the downturn. I have been to visit Jaguar Land Rover in Castle Bromwich where I was impressed by the forward thinking of trade unions, who have worked with management to ensure continued research and development into greener vehicles.”

Since the end of last year car sales have plummeted dramatically across the EU as the economic downturn has taken effect. This is endangering millions of jobs across the continent.

Neena outlined to the House how she had called on the Commission to approve the UK government’s support for the car industry, but urged a broader approach. She added: “We must take a holistic approach to the industry during this crisis.”

“Last week, I visited the Michelin plant in my constituency to see the effects of the downturn there. The components of cars are just as important as cars themselves.”

In the European Parliament, Neena has been working on legislation that will improve the saleability of tyres by making them more efficient.

“It is through measures such as these that we can ensure the future of the supply chain is not in doubt. There is little point in protecting the biggest industries without ensuring proper support for businesses down the supply chain that create so many jobs, and support so many families, in the West Midlands region.”