Committee looks at support for car industry
18 May 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
The Business and Enterprise Committee hears from Jaguar, Toytota and Leyland in a series of evidence sessions throughout the week for its inquiry into the Automobile Assistance Programme, the Government’s support package to the car industry.
The Committee holds an evidence session in Westminster today at 5pm and visits the West Midlands and North-West to take evidence from representatives from the car and car component industries on Wednesday and Thursday.
Appearing before the Committee today will be Professor Richard Parry-Jones CBE, Chairman of the New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team.
On Wednesday 20 May, the Committee will visit the Advantage West Midlands Head Office, in Aston Science Park, where it will hear from:
- David Smith, Chief Executive, Jaguar Land Rover
- Paul Everitt, Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
- Graham Smith, Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Toyota Motor Europe
- representatives from the Retail Motor Industry Federation
On Thursday 21 May, the Committee will be in Chorley Town Hall, where it will hear from:
- Chris Gateley, Managing Director, Multipart
- Leyland Trucks
- Northwest Regional Development Agency
Chairman Peter Luff commented:
"We are keen to see for ourselves what problems the car industry is facing, if the Government’s support package, especially with the new measures announced in the Budget, is working and how it might be improved. We wanted to hear from people at the heart of the industry, in some of the industry's heartlands. I look forward to a productive and informative visit."
The Committee’s inquiry is looking at the Automotive Assistance Programme in the context of wider support for the sector, and its role in the economy.
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform launched the Automotive Assistance Programme on 27 January 2009. The scheme is open to projects of over £5m from UK based car and car component manufacturers with an annual turnover of £25m plus and is intended to free up lending of more than £2b over two years to ensure that major UK based low-carbon investment projects are not abandoned or relocated.