News Release

5th December 2003

MICHAEL MEETS BLACK COUNTRY MANUFACTURERS IN WESTMINSTER

Michael Fabricant met midlands manufacturers on Wednesday 3rd December when the Black Country Chamber of Commerce - which has an associate chamber covering Lichfield - visited the House of Commons. "The British Chamber of Commerce has estimated that extra taxes and regulations have cost British manufacturers more than £16 billion over the last 5 years. No wonder manufacturing jobs are being lost across our region." says Michael Fabricant. "As the Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs, I was delighted to meet some of the local manufacturers who came down to Westminster to discuss the problems they are facing. Clearly, the Government needs to address over regulation and a serious skills shortage in our area. We are becoming less competitive compared with other countries having dropped 9 places in the international manufacturing competitiveness league in the last few years."

Ian Brough, Director of Policy and Representation of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce says: "A key issue is the need to reinforce the message to Government that manufacturing matters to the West Midlands and the Country overall. The headlines can often be misleading and for the ill informed it would be easy to misinterpret and feel despondent, believing that the continued decline in manufacturing is un-stoppable and no one, particularly the Government, cares or is taking action. Significantly the Midlands is still losing large numbers of traditional manufacturing jobs and with the likely demise of Goodyear and Alstrom in Birmingham on the horizon serving to emphasising that no organisation is immune from pressures. There are however, a great many successful companies and key individuals who are succeeding against all the odds.

"There are success stories and a number of the bright up and coming companies show signs of tremendous potential will be joining the delegation. For example Eurotec in Wednesbury, winning back contracts from Spain, Hungary and Poland, whilst Zeus Aluminium is making significant gains in Germany and Tansun Ltd from West Bromwich, acknowledged as leaders in Europe are in the early stages of launching their world-class sun tan machines on the North American market.

"The skills issue is never very far from the surface in any debate related to the future of manufacturing and the now well-recognised skills shortage is a serious challenge."

Left to right: Alan Vurlan MD Cooper Coated Steels Ltd, Michael Fabricant, Terry Hunt MD Litescene Ltd, and John Reader Director Black Country Chamber.