Peter Mandelson _320
MINISTERS have held discussions with Jaguar Land Rover about the possibility of state assistance for the car maker, business secretary Lord Mandelson said last night.
But he stressed the Halewood-based firm’s Indian owners, Tata, had “the first responsibility” to ensure its survival, and warned the Government did not have “an open cheque book” to bail out ailing private companies.
Earlier, during a Commons debate, business minister Ian Pearson told MPs a loan was possible as a “last resort”.
A car giant could go bust in the same way as Woolworth and MFI, he said, but played down talk of an imminent Treasury loan.
Lord Mandelson said it was too early to judge whether state help would be needed at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) or other parts of the British automotive sector.
