Government doing everything it can on Alstom, says Rishi Sunak

In Derbyshire, Rishi Sunak said a cross-government taskforce had been set up to support workers

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has offered no new commitment to secure train manufacturing in Derby.

The boss of train builder Alstom told the BBC earlier this week the last train on a big order was complete, as 3,000 jobs were put at risk.

Mr Sunak was in Langley Mill in Derbyshire to launch the Conservative party's local election campaign.

He said the government was looking to "support the supply chain and make sure there is a good pipeline of work".

Alstom's Litchurch Lane factory in Derby has no confirmed workload beyond the first quarter of 2024

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday, Nick Crossfield, managing director of Alstom UK & Ireland, said the possible job losses would have a "considerable" impact on the national supply chain - understood to affect a further 15,000 jobs - many in Derbyshire.

He said the company could no longer guarantee a presence at their Litchurch Lane site because the main production had finished, with an 18-month gap until the next order.

The BBC understands if the site was to close, the UK would be the only nation in the G7 that does not have a site able to design, develop and manufacture trains.

Workers have faced uncertainty for several months

Speaking to BBC Radio Derby on Friday, Mr Sunak said: "I know it will be a concerning time for everyone both at the plant and more generally and that's why we've set up a cross-government taskforce to make sure the appropriate support is in place for the workers.

"Without being able to comment on commercial conversations, the government is doing everything it can to support the supply chain and make sure there is a good pipeline of work.

"The transport secretary has been involved in constructive dialogue for a while with Alstom and we want to make sure we have fantastic opportunities for everyone to participate in."

An Alstom spokesperson said: "We continue to work constructively with the government on securing a sustainable future for Derby Litchurch Lane, but after 10 months of discussions, we have all but run out of time, and need to provide the much-needed certainty to our Derby staff and supply chain."

Paresh Patel, regional secretary for Unite East Midlands, added there were "clearly" now gaps in production and that the workforce was "frustrated" and "angry".

He said: "We're calling on government and we're calling on Alstom to get their heads together and get the deal done. There is a deal on the table that we believe can be signed and can start delivering work through the factory gates."

Maternity inquiry

Meanwhile, the prime minister also declined to commit to a public inquiry into maternity services during his visit to the East Midlands.

Mr Sunak was asked about Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust's maternity services.

Experienced midwife Donna Ockenden is running what is thought to be the largest review into maternity services in NHS history in Nottingham, involving the cases of 1,813 families.

There have been further calls for a UK-wide inquiry.

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust's maternity services are currently rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

When asked if he would commit to a public inquiry, Mr Sunak said: "I'm not as familiar with the specific details of what has happened, I was just talking to Ben [Bradley] about it.

"My understanding is that there has been a review of maternity services.

"More generally what we have done is to invest around £150m extra in strengthening maternity services across the country because it is incredibly important.

"We have had incidences in different areas where services have not been at the standard that any of us would expect or that people deserve.

"I'm sure the health trust here will take on board all the recommendations of the report and make sure patients get the care they need."