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Swinney 'deeply concerned' over bus firm job cuts

Alexander Dennis Two Alexander Dennis buses in green and blue driving side by side on a road with grass verges at either side.Alexander Dennis
Alexander Dennis is planning to move its full UK operation to North Yorkshire

The first minister has said the Scottish government will do "everything it can" to workers at bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis.

John Swinney said he was "deeply concerned" the firm was planning to move its full operation to a site in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, putting 400 jobs at factories in Falkirk and Larbert at risk.

However, he faced criticism from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who claimed his government had ordered more buses from China than it had from the firm.

Swinney said most bus ordering decisions in Scotland were made by private operators, and the government had to comply with state subsidy rules in the way it ed businesses.

At First Minister's Questions Swinney said: "This issue has been occupying a great deal of the focus and the attention of the deputy first minister and I and the UK government ministers since we became aware of the situation over the last few weeks, and then ultimately to the decision that was announced yesterday."

He quoted a t letter from the UK and Scottish governments, which pledged to "work closely with Alexander Dennis at this challenging time".

Alexander Dennis (ADL) cited strong competition from the China, which has seen its market share grow from 10% to 35%, among its reasons for the move.

The firm also criticised UK policy, and called for jobs and local economic benefit to be factored in when taxpayers money is invested.

Earlier Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham pointed to an order of 160 ADL buses for the publicly-owned "Bee Network" in the city, and questioned why the Scottish government could not do the same.

In a statement, Burnham - who has previously visited the Falkirk site - said: "Our iconic Bee Network buses are a bit of Scotland right here in Greater Manchester.

"We have over 160 Alexander Dennis buses criss-crossing our city-region every day - connecting our communities to opportunity.

"If Greater Manchester can invest in world-class Scottish bus manufacturing, then why can't the SNP Scottish government":[]}