Caught a story on Sky News or was it BBC News 24 about our government awarding a contract to manufacture trains to Siemens, Germany instead of a UK firm.. I say 'caught' because, the video footage must have lasted no more than 10 seconds, such as is the importance of reporting British news .. these days.
I'd say the story is more important than 'phone hacking', because it concerns British jobs. It seems that our government is not interested in creating British jobs in the private sector..
Had to look on internet for some more details,, that I'm sharing.
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The Labour Party has added to the pressure on David Cameron over the controversial decision to award a ?3bn train contract to Siemens of Germany, warning the choice to send the work abroad could affect up to 20,000 UK jobs and demanding a full review of the way the selection was made.
In a letter sent to the prime minister at the weekend, shadow business secretary John Denham and his transport counterpart Maria Eagle said awarding the Thameslink trains deal to Siemens rather than the Bombardier factory in Derby "dealt a body-blow to British manufacturing." Last week, in a veiled reference to the Siemens decision, two cabinet ministers wrote to Cameron expressing concerns that UK-based firms are losing out to European rivals in significant procurement contests.
Echoing concerns from local politicians and trade union officials in Derby, Denham and Eagle said: "The only remaining company which designs, builds, maintains and exports trains and parts in the UK is now in peril. The effect of losing such a company would not only impact on the workforce and their families in Derby. The supply chain that provides high-quality parts and services will be undermined by the loss of a key manufacturing company, with huge repercussions."
Eagle and Denham added that the decision could have serious repercussions for up to 20,000 jobs, including the 6,000 people employed by the Canadian company directly in the UK. Bombardier has announced that it is reviewing its UK operations in the wake of the Thameslink decision and last week a delegation of business and council leaders from Derby lobbied Bombardier executives at the headquarters of the company's transport division in Berlin.
"The wider impact could affect up to 20,000 jobs in the supply chain," said the letter. "At a time when economic growth remains weak, such a threat to so many people's jobs cannot be allowed to happen unless all possible solutions have been explored."
Denham and Eagle added that future rolling stock awards, for the Crossrail and High Speed Two projects, are likely to be tilted in favour of the company producing the 1,200 Thameslink carriages, which will run on a north-south rail line that bisects the capital.
"It is clear that this decision could put the country's ability to compete for these high-value contracts at a serious disadvantage," the letter states. Calling for a review of the decision, it adds: "The Thameslink contract needs to undergo a full independent review. A review must take into account the effect on the UK economy that the loss of this contract to a foreign consortium would create."
Last week a letter to Cameron from Philip Hammond, the transport secretary, and Vince Cable, the business secretary, implied that other European countries are more protective of their industrial interests when handing out manufacturing contracts. "There is a perception that other EU countries appear to manage their public procurement processes with a sharper focus on domestic supply than we have hitherto," said the letter.
Cable and Hammond said a review of how the government can boost the private sector should "examine what more we can do to improve the business environment for companies competing for government contracts". However, the letter noted that EU rules require equal, transparent and non-discriminatory treatment of bidders for government contracts.
Nonetheless, union officials believe other EU states manage to protect their domestic interests despite the strict rules. The Unite trade union said the UK should follow the example of Germany, where state-backed Deutsche Bahn awarded a ?6bn (?5.4bn) high-speed train contract to Siemens.
However, EU procurement guidelines state explicitly that governments must not base contract awards on a bidder's location or nationality. Speaking after a Siemens-led consortium was announced as preferred bidder for the contract last month, the rail minister, Theresa Villiers, said the deal would create 2,000 jobs in the rail industry supply chain. However, the trains will be built in Germany with only components being made in the UK.
"Siemens as preferred bidder for this contract represents the best value for money for taxpayers," she said. "It will create around 2,000 jobs and will provide Thameslink passengers with modern, greener and more reliable trains." "
Link to Guardian newspaper article here
Hey, I'm just sorry for the loss of British jobs here... Just wonder if Britain's EU partners follow 'the EU guidelines' as closely as the UK. And... if UK manufacturers cant rely on the UK government to award a contract... then what chance have we got?
I'd say the story is more important than 'phone hacking', because it concerns British jobs. It seems that our government is not interested in creating British jobs in the private sector..
Had to look on internet for some more details,, that I'm sharing.
"
The Labour Party has added to the pressure on David Cameron over the controversial decision to award a ?3bn train contract to Siemens of Germany, warning the choice to send the work abroad could affect up to 20,000 UK jobs and demanding a full review of the way the selection was made.
In a letter sent to the prime minister at the weekend, shadow business secretary John Denham and his transport counterpart Maria Eagle said awarding the Thameslink trains deal to Siemens rather than the Bombardier factory in Derby "dealt a body-blow to British manufacturing." Last week, in a veiled reference to the Siemens decision, two cabinet ministers wrote to Cameron expressing concerns that UK-based firms are losing out to European rivals in significant procurement contests.
Echoing concerns from local politicians and trade union officials in Derby, Denham and Eagle said: "The only remaining company which designs, builds, maintains and exports trains and parts in the UK is now in peril. The effect of losing such a company would not only impact on the workforce and their families in Derby. The supply chain that provides high-quality parts and services will be undermined by the loss of a key manufacturing company, with huge repercussions."
Eagle and Denham added that the decision could have serious repercussions for up to 20,000 jobs, including the 6,000 people employed by the Canadian company directly in the UK. Bombardier has announced that it is reviewing its UK operations in the wake of the Thameslink decision and last week a delegation of business and council leaders from Derby lobbied Bombardier executives at the headquarters of the company's transport division in Berlin.
"The wider impact could affect up to 20,000 jobs in the supply chain," said the letter. "At a time when economic growth remains weak, such a threat to so many people's jobs cannot be allowed to happen unless all possible solutions have been explored."
Denham and Eagle added that future rolling stock awards, for the Crossrail and High Speed Two projects, are likely to be tilted in favour of the company producing the 1,200 Thameslink carriages, which will run on a north-south rail line that bisects the capital.
"It is clear that this decision could put the country's ability to compete for these high-value contracts at a serious disadvantage," the letter states. Calling for a review of the decision, it adds: "The Thameslink contract needs to undergo a full independent review. A review must take into account the effect on the UK economy that the loss of this contract to a foreign consortium would create."
Last week a letter to Cameron from Philip Hammond, the transport secretary, and Vince Cable, the business secretary, implied that other European countries are more protective of their industrial interests when handing out manufacturing contracts. "There is a perception that other EU countries appear to manage their public procurement processes with a sharper focus on domestic supply than we have hitherto," said the letter.
Cable and Hammond said a review of how the government can boost the private sector should "examine what more we can do to improve the business environment for companies competing for government contracts". However, the letter noted that EU rules require equal, transparent and non-discriminatory treatment of bidders for government contracts.
Nonetheless, union officials believe other EU states manage to protect their domestic interests despite the strict rules. The Unite trade union said the UK should follow the example of Germany, where state-backed Deutsche Bahn awarded a ?6bn (?5.4bn) high-speed train contract to Siemens.
However, EU procurement guidelines state explicitly that governments must not base contract awards on a bidder's location or nationality. Speaking after a Siemens-led consortium was announced as preferred bidder for the contract last month, the rail minister, Theresa Villiers, said the deal would create 2,000 jobs in the rail industry supply chain. However, the trains will be built in Germany with only components being made in the UK.
"Siemens as preferred bidder for this contract represents the best value for money for taxpayers," she said. "It will create around 2,000 jobs and will provide Thameslink passengers with modern, greener and more reliable trains." "
Link to Guardian newspaper article here
Hey, I'm just sorry for the loss of British jobs here... Just wonder if Britain's EU partners follow 'the EU guidelines' as closely as the UK. And... if UK manufacturers cant rely on the UK government to award a contract... then what chance have we got?
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