Scarborough MP pushes for Plaxton help

Conservative MP, Robert Goodwill, has asked government what steps it is taking to aid bus manufacturing in Scarborough and more widely across England.

Plaxton has a factory in Goodwill’s constituency of Scarborough and Whitby and could see up to 90 job cuts as part of cost-cutting measures to be made by its parent company, Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL), in response to the affects of the pandemic.

In response to Goodwill’s question, Andrew Stephenson, Minister of State at the DfT, said: “We are committed to providing at least 4,000 British-built zero-emission buses through our £5 billion funding package for buses and cycling.”

Mr Goodwill pushed further, asking: “If 2020 has been a tough year for bus and coach operators, it has been even worse for manufacturers such as Alexander Dennis Plaxton in Scarborough. We have heard on a number of occasions today of the £5 billion announced in February for 4,000 zero-emission British-built buses, but does the Minister agree with me that we need to get this money out of the door very quickly indeed if we are to avert a crisis on the production lines?”

Andrew Stephenson answered: “I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. I completely agree with what he says, and I commend him for what he has been doing to support manufacturers in his constituency. The Government have announced over £700 million in support for the bus and light rail sector already to date, and we are also providing £50 million for Britain’s first all-electric bus town and the £20 million rural mobility fund, which will support additional jobs. However, I agree with him, and I hope that we will make an announcement soon.”