Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) (Lab): Amid the speculation in the press about the progress of negotiations between MG Rover and Shanghai Automotive, does my right hon. Friend agree that we must keep at the forefront of our minds the 6,000 employees at MG Rover, the employees’ families, the communities that depend on MG Rover and the businesses whose futures are intertwined with MG Rover? Will he assure me that the Government will continue to do all that they can successfully to conclude those negotiations and that, come what may, this Government will continue to stand by manufacturing in the west midlands and MG Rover workers?
The Prime Minister: I can certainly give my hon. Friend that assurance. All the members of the Government with an interest in the matter, including my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Chancellor, and I, keep in close touch on that issue, and we will do whatever we can to help to achieve a successful resolution. As he has rightly said, the jobs, living standards and livelihoods of those people who work at MG Rover must be foremost in our minds.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050406/debtext/50406-04.htm
