WIRRAL West Conservative MP Esther McVey has been appointed chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Chemical Industry.
The chemical Industry is worth £60bn to the UK economy annually and one of the largest employers in the North West, with companies such as Shell, Unilever and AstraZeneca.
Over the next year, Ms McVey will be working with all parties and the Government looking at energy, environment, jobs, including apprenticeships and skills, as well as education in schools.
She said: “The products of the chemical industry are the essential building blocks in the everyday items all around us such as medicines, computers, phones, clean water, cars, soap, textiles and paint.
“A vibrant manufacturing sector in the UK needs a thriving chemical industry to supply its raw materials. It is also an industry that provides many thousands of quality jobs that pay on average 20% more than other parts of manufacturing.”
Stephen Elliott, chief executive of the Chemical Industry Association said: “Coming from the North West, Esther knows how important the industry is to employment and prosperity in the region, and her media experience and ability to communicate with a wide audience will help the industry improve its profile and its relationships inside Parliament and beyond.”
