Investment and jobs would be hit by Conservative plans, warns Austin

Business Secretary LORD MANDELSON congratulated Dudley bearing manufacturers Revolvo on winning a £1 million contract from India when he dropped in on the Yorks Park company today.

But he warned that investment to help manufacturing companies and boost the area’s economy would be brought to a halt if the Conservatives won the election.

Lord Mandelson joined local MP Ian Austin on a visit to Dudley bearing manufacturers Revolvo who recently secured a £240,000 grant to fund new specialist machinery and move to larger premises from Regional Development Agency Advantage West Midlands.

The new machinery and premises enabled the company to win a £1 million contract to manufacture bearings for Jindal Steel and Power, India’s largest steel producers.

Lord Mandelson said:

“Revolvo are a great company investing in new machinery, producing world-beating products and winning business for Britain. They are exactly the sort of modern manufacturing company we need to do well for the future of the economy.

“I’m really pleased to see the government grant provided through Advantage West Midlands helped Revolvo win this new business, but I’m worried that Conservative commitments to abolish the RDAs would bring investment like this to a halt and put jobs and investment at risk.”

Ian Austin said:

“We’ve got big plans to invest in Dudley through AWM and their grants have really helped local companies like Revolvo. Local manufacturers need all the help they can get at the moment, but the Conservatives’ spending cuts include a commitment to abolishing our Regional Development Agencies and all this extra help for Dudley would be put at risk.”