Prime Minister says Alexander Dennis workers facing "concerning" time

The Prime Minister has raised concerns about job losses at the Alexander Dennis bus factory in Larbert.

400 people are at risk of redundancy, with the company looking to close down the site.

The issue has been raised at Westminster.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer said:

"It is a deeply concerning time for the workers and their families in Falkirk. We are working with mayors and local leaders to develop a pipeline of future orders for zero emission buses, which is an important aspect of this issue. 

While Labour mayors in England are ordering Scottish buses, the SNP is ordering buses from China, just like it ordered ships from Turkey and Poland, not from Scottish shipyards. The SNP should be backing Scottish workers."

The Scottish Government say "all viable options" are being explored to save jobs at the site.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said:

“This serious situation requires a rapid response to retain manufacturing sites and the valuable jobs supported by ADL and the wider supply chain in Scotland.

“Ministers have been engaged in a sustained dialogue with the company and other interested parties such as the unions for a number of weeks to support Alexander Dennis, and those discussions continue at pace. We are regularly reviewing progress and exchanging ideas and information to keep these valued manufacturing jobs here, and I am encouraged by ADL’s commitment to consider chassis manufacture in Scotland.

“We are acutely aware of the importance of securing a short-term pipeline of orders for the company, and we continue to liaise with commercial bus operators and local transport authorities to establish demand for buses in Scotland while working alongside UK Government to identify demand in other parts of the UK. We are also pressing the UK Government on the detail of its recent announcement of £15.6 billion funding for local transport projects in England’s city regions as part of the Spending Review.”