New MP for Kingswood, Chris Skidmore, has spoken in Parliament about the decision to close the local Somerdale plant in Keynsham, near his Constituency.

Chris raised the issue of the closure, earmarked for 2011, in Treasury Questions. Chris spoke of his constituents’ ‘disappointment’ at the decision, linking the closure to the general decline in manufacturing based jobs in the Country since 1997. Chris also asked the Government what they would do to support manufacturers in the Country.

Commenting, Chris said, “The closure of the Cadbury’s Somerdale plant is a major issue for my Constituents; not only do many work at the Plant, but the Factory itself has an enormous significance and heritage to the local area. The closure is a tragedy on so many levels, for all those past and present who have worked at Somerdale. My hope for the future is that by low taxation and investment in business we can bring more manufacturing businesses to this Country, rather than watch them fly abroad.”

Treasury minster David Gauke MP responded that the cut in Corporation Tax would help to achieve this.

The exchange in Parliament is below:

T5. [7721] Chris Skidmore (Kingswood) (Con): I am sure that Ministers can understand the disappointment of my constituents when Cadbury’s new owners stated their intention to move mass production abroad from the Somerdale plant near my constituency. In the light of this and of the dramatic decline in manufacturing employment over the past 13 years—down from 4.7 million jobs in 1997 to 2.6 million jobs now—what steps are they taking to support manufacturers in this country?

Mr Gauke: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the fact that we live in a globalised world and that businesses can choose where they locate their activity. That is why we are introducing substantial cuts in corporation tax, from 28% to 24%. I was delighted to read this morning that the previous Chancellor was an enthusiast for reducing corporation tax—although we did not see so much evidence of that when he was in power. The fact is that the Budget proposals will benefit all sectors of society, including manufacturing, and we will see £13 billion more investment over the next few years as a consequence of those measures.