James Cunningham

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MP's to meet Jaguar Land Rover management

12 October 2009

Jim Cunningham together with Coventry and Warwickshire MP's will be meeting with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) management at the House of Commons on Tuesday 13th October to discuss recent announcements from the company about the future of the business. Concerns have been heightened in light of ongoing losses the company have been experienced during the downturn in the economy. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr. Cunningham emphasised a number of areas he would be questioning the company on.

He said: "I want to hear from the company what they have to say about outsourcing of work and the impact that will have on jobs in the company. I also want to hear the company give clear commitments to job security to enable workers and the unions to face the future with confidence. I'm also interested what new models the company plans to bring on stream to keep Jaguar Land Rover ahead of its competitors. As a quintessential British company, which is vital to the economy of Coventry and the wider Warwickshire and West Midlands economy, it's important that the Chief Executive David Smith reaffirms JLRs confidence both in the highly skilled workforce within the company and their ongoing and lasting commitment to the UK as a whole.

"As Whitley Research and Development Plant is in my constituency, I will be raising a number of questions about the factory. I have visited the plant on a number of occasions over the years and the dedication and expertise on display there is the envy of the industry. This must continue and, more importantly continue to flourish.

"I shall also be seeking meetings with the Trade Unions to understand more fully the issues and concerns they have. They have been both cooperative and forward thinking in difficult times in helping the company to steer through what every one recognises has been a rocky and twisting road. Now more than ever, both management and workers must come together to agree a way forward. To this end, I shall also be in touch with Lord Mandelson and his colleagues at the Business department to find out what contacts he has had with the company and to see what help the government can give. Everyone in the industry recognises the success the scrappage scheme has been and if we need to do more then we should face up to that. JLR is too important to us not to go the extra mile if we have to."