Date: 09 September 2009 BROCKLEBANK : ‘DIAGEO ANNOUNCEMENT IS EXCELLENT NEWS FOR FIFE’ Commenting on Diageo’s decision, Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Ted Brocklebank, said;
“I am delighted that Diageo have decided to reject the Government taskforce’s proposals and are to proceed with their initial plans for consolidating their Scottish operations in Fife. This will see Diageo increase their commitment to Fife by investing £86 million in expanding their Leven bottling plant and creating 400 new jobs. These new jobs are much-needed and will provide a massive boost to an area which has been struggling in the midst of Gordon Brown’s recession.
“Diageo has already invested heavily in its Fife operations, having only last year announced plans to build a £65 million bioenergy facility at its Cameronbridge facility. The decision to proceed with their initial restructuring plans will ensure that they will continue to bring investment and employment to Fife and Scotland for generations to come.
“I am, of course, very disappointed that 900 jobs will be lost in the west as nobody wants to see jobs lost anywhere in Scotland during such difficult times, and I commend the efforts of the Diageo taskforce in trying to save these jobs. However, the proposals they put forward were not sustainable and would have only saved a total of 50 jobs in Scotland, providing an unsatisfactory outcome for all parties concerned.
“Diageo’s Chief Executive, Paul Walsh, had warned that the future viability of their Fife operations could be seriously compromised if they accepted the Government taskforce’s proposals, potentially costing more jobs in the future and possibly affecting further investment from Diageo in Scotland. I am very pleased that they have decided against compromising their Fife operations”
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