THE Government’s support package for the motor industry is welcome but does not go far enough – that’s the message from industry experts today.
The package announced by Lord Mandelson aims to help the industry get back on its feet, but some analysts say more targeted measures are needed to help car companies such as Jaguar Land Rover survive the downturn that has seen car sales slump in the UK and overseas.
Neil Barlow, chief executive of the Northwest Automotive Alliance, welcomed the support package but said he would have liked to see the Government subsidising wages in the industry to keep people in employment.
He said: “It would be nice if we could keep those people on with wage subsidies. There is a danger we could lose skills in the industry and if there’s ever an upturn we wouldn’t have the skills to respond.”
Steve Radley, chief economist at the Engineering Employers Federation, welcomed the package but agreed short-term measures were needed to hep companies hold on to their workers.
