'Graphoprint' North Wales Closure - Eleanor Burnham Comments

3.16.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Jun 2007

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, today raised an urgent question to Economy Minister Brian Gibbons regarding the closure of the Graphoprint printing plant based at the Deeside Industrial Estate in North Wales.

The company went into administration last Friday and it has now been decided that 180 jobs will be lost from the North Wales plant. Ms Burnham raised the emergency question in Plenary this afternoon to demand what Welsh Assembly Government support would be given to those employees who are now to lose their jobs.

Ms Burnham said: "It is always distressing when people lose their jobs on such a scale. It was originally estimated that 260 jobs could go as a result of the liquidation of Graphoprint and in such cases our first priority is always how the government can aid and support those whose jobs have been cut.

"I was contacted this morning by a spouse of one of the employees regarding the job losses and have since spoken to both the administrators KPMG about the situation as well as contacting Graphoprint themselves.

"The minister has reassured the Assembly that every employee who finds themselves out of work will be offered skills training, careers advice and additional support as part of the 'ReAct' scheme, a joint initiative from the Department of Work and Pensions in line with the Welsh Assembly Government.

"I was also pleased to hear from the minister that the Welsh Assembly Government will be aiding the company in looking for new owners to take on the plant and keep those jobs available in North Wales.

"I will be in close contact with the minister for updates on the progress of this situation following my emergency question today."

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