GORDON BROWN pledged to ensure Airbus remained the biggest manufacturing plant in the UK.

He was at the Airbus UK facility in Broughton yesterday to see the work being done and to meet apprentices and workers.

In August, more than 1,000 jobs at the wing-making plant in north-east Wales were secured after agreement on a £340m funding package.

At the time, the Government said it was giving the money in repayable launch aid investment to support the development of Airbus’ latest passenger airliner – the A350 XWB.

Mr Brown said: “The investment we have made in Airbus in the last few months is important so we are determined that this is and remains the biggest manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom.

“At the same time, where small firms and medium-sized firms are finding it difficult with cash flow, thousands have benefited from the schemes that we have set up that have come since the recession started.”

The Prime Minister stressed the Government attached a great importance to young people to get them into training, education and jobs.

“Jobs is our first priority and giving people skills to get these jobs.

“But at the same time maintaining investment, as we are doing here.”