Tuesday 15th February 2011

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins has today issued a statement regarding the potential loss of 400 local jobs at Hasland based Auto Windscreens and is calling for all parties to come together to save the company from extinction.

After staff were sent home on Monday, Mr. Perkins is asking the Secretary of State for Business to consider Government intervention in the same way as the Pfizer site in Kent when jobs were saved in a last minute deal.

He's announced he is to hold a series of emergency talks with administrators - Deloitte LLP and working alongside UNITE the Union, Government Ministers and the Local Enterprise Partnership to call on potential investors to facilitate a swift takeover after the issuing of a winding up order yesterday.

Just a few weeks ago, Mr. Perkins met with the Managing Director to learn about the company's attempts to emerge from an extremely tough period.

After registering a loss of £5 million in the financial year ending in December 2009, there had been optimism that the company could trade their way back into profit, but a winding up order, enforced by senior creditor HM Revenue & Customs and further delays to the company's attempts to find a buyer have seen the company fall into administration.

Mr. Perkins said: "This is a crucial period for the future of Auto Windscreens and for hundreds of Chesterfield people currently worried about losing their jobs.

"This is also a time for Government, the trade union and the Local Enterprise Partnership to come together to consider any avenue available to keep this company trading. With immediate and decisive action there may still be a chance to turn this awful news around.

"I will continue to hold talks with all parties concerned in the hope that this situation can be salvaged for the good of Auto Windscreens and the people of Chesterfield".

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