Written Question
Monday 8th July 2019
Asked by:
Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he is planning to hold the meeting with GKN Aerospace and the hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield on the future of GKN Aerospace in Kings Norton.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
We are currently working with both parties to find the earliest mutually convenient date and time for the meeting to take place.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 04 Jul 2019
Sale of New Petrol and Diesel Cars and Vans
"It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Antoinette Sandbach). I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Peter Kyle) on securing this debate and commend him on what he said about the experience of driving an electric vehicle. He is also right that ambitious targets …..."Richard Burden - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 Jun 2019
Net Zero Emissions Target
"This morning, the all-party motor group, which I chair, met a wide range of senior representatives of UK automotive companies, and there was a real welcome for the announcement that the Government have committed to net zero by 2050. However, they also noted that there is so much more to …..."Richard Burden - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Apr 2019
GKN Aerospace, Kings Norton
"I am grateful for this opportunity to raise the case of GKN Aerospace in Kings Norton. It is a year to the day since the Business Secretary made a statement to the House to tell us that, while he would not intervene to block Melrose Industries’ hostile takeover bid for …..."Richard Burden - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Apr 2019
GKN Aerospace, Kings Norton
"The hon. Gentleman is quite right, and I thank him for his kind words. This breach of faith needs to be challenged, and I hope that the Minister will assure us that it is not only Opposition Back Benchers who are challenging the decision and that the Government will do …..."Richard Burden - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Apr 2019
GKN Aerospace, Kings Norton
"My hon. Friend is right to mention national security. It was raised last year, and I will refer to it later in my speech, because GKN Aerospace Kings Norton manufactures windscreens, windows and other transparencies for both military and civilian aircraft...."Richard Burden - View Speech
View all Richard Burden (Lab - Birmingham, Northfield) contributions to the debate on: GKN Aerospace, Kings Norton
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Apr 2019
GKN Aerospace, Kings Norton
"My hon. Friend makes a good point, and I hope that we hear some strong statements from the Minister about what the Government are going to do.
Last year, not only had Melrose sought to assure the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee of its intentions, but it provided a …..."Richard Burden - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Apr 2019
GKN Aerospace, Kings Norton
"It was remiss of me earlier not to welcome the Minister to his new position on the Front Bench. Can I ask him to address the question of alternatives? Frankly, saying that employees will be supported to find other jobs is not the same as asking the company whether it …..."Richard Burden - View Speech
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Written Question
Tuesday 16th April 2019
Asked by:
Richard Burden (Labour - Birmingham, Northfield)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the planned closure of the GKN Aerospace at Kings Norton, Birmingham on the local economy; and what discussions he has had with representatives of that company on that proposed closure.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Following GKN’s notification to employees on 4 April about their intention to undertake a phased closure of their Kings Norton site in Birmingham by 2021, the Secretary of State spoke to Hans Buthker (CEO of GKN Aerospace) on 7 April. He explained that this proposal was the result of an internal strategic review by GKN to help the company secure long-term sustainability that will better position it for future growth.
Mr Buthker stressed GKN’s continued commitment to the UK, evidenced by the significant new investment the company is making including, as part of this proposal, at Luton and Portsmouth and in a Global Technology R&D Centre at Filton. This comes on top of GKN’s further announcement last week for £300 million in new investment to ramp up its activities in the fast-growing electric vehicle market.
This is a commercial decision for GKN Aerospace and not in contravention of the deed of covenant agreed between BEIS and Melrose. GKN Aerospace have confirmed the site will remain operational in a phased capacity until 2021, and all affected employees will be supported in seeking new employment within and outside of GKN Aerospace. GKN Aerospace announced they will be increasing overall investment in its other UK sites, with Luton and Portsmouth becoming technology centres of excellence. GKN Aerospace invested record levels into R&D in 2018, including a new world-class Global Technology Centre opening in Bristol in 2020, hosting 300 highly skilled engineers.
We appreciate this will be an unsettling time for the 172 employees at Kings Norton and will work closely with the company, and local partners, to make sure that they are supported throughout.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 19 Feb 2019
Honda in Swindon
"Brexit may not have been the direct cause of Honda’s announcement, but, to echo the wise words of the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), does the Business Secretary agree with me that it is an absolutely key part of the context in which Honda and other …..."Richard Burden - View Speech
View all Richard Burden (Lab - Birmingham, Northfield) contributions to the debate on: Honda in Swindon