Opel/Vauxhall: Sale to PSA Group

John Pugh Excerpts
Monday 6th March 2017

(7 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
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I hope that it is, and we should do everything we can to make sure that it is. A company that is committed to expansion has an opportunity to ensure that that includes the expansion of UK plants. It is an area in which we are strong and in which we have a high reputation, and this should be an opportunity for us to make what is good even better.

John Pugh Portrait John Pugh (Southport) (LD)
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I cannot help feeling that the Minister is being a little bit complacent. Some 76% of cars produced at Ellesmere Port are exported, but many of them are left-hand drive cars for Europe. Would it really make sense to Peugeot to continue left-hand drive production outside the EU, and not in Poland or Germany?

Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
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I persuade companies to invest in Britain; I think that the hon. Gentleman is thinking up reasons for them to be put off. I believe that the efficiency and the innovation that we have in this country are what cause people to invest here, and I will do all that I can to make this a positive and expanding industry in the future.