Cable lays foundations for manufacturing growth in Lancashire

BUSINESS Secretary Vince Cable drove home the Coalition government’s commitment to supporting British industry during a fact-finding visit to a Lancashire truck maker.

At Leyland, Mr Cable toured the UK’s only volume truck assembly plant, which has a 1,000-strong workforce, and saw its new DAF XF flagship model which will enter production in April.

He said: “We have an industrial strategy, we have identified some key industries: automotive is one, aerospace is another along with life sciences and new renewables, we have sat down with companies and worked through the things they need and the things government can do.”

“A lot of it is psychology; people in this country have got into the way of thinking we no longer make things any more, but we do. We have got a very high-quality manufacturing sector and we have to build on that.”

He said: “I think the region is well placed, but the British economy is still struggling to get out of this terrible crisis.

He also said the Government was aware of the concerns of industry leaders over the lack of skills in the UK and the need for more vocational training.

Mr Cable was accompanied by Terry Scouler, chief executive of manufacturing industry body the EEF, during his trip.

“In the new DAF XF we have a truck that sets the industry standard for clean emissions, low noise, fuel efficiency, payload and driver comfort. Meeting this new legislation is vital to our continuing success in expanding DAF’s presence across Europe where it is the fastest growing truck marque. “All right hand drive models for the UK market – where DAF is leading the market with a record market share of almost 30% last year - will be built at our highly efficient plant in Lancashire. And it is also here that our team of development engineers are finalizing the development process of the Euro 6 LF distribution truck, which will be produced uniquely at Leyland Trucks and which will be officially unveiled at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham in April, together with the versatile Euro 6 CF series.”