David Cameron to look into Dunlop Motorsport factory closure
British Prime Minister David Cameron has told the House of Commons that he will personally look into the planned closure of the Dunlop Motorsport factory in Birmingham
Parent company Goodyear Dunlop has plans to close the site and relocate its UK motorsport operation, which produces a quarter of a million tyres each year for various motorsport uses, to France and Germany.
The closure would mean the loss of 241 jobs.
Dunlop's lease on the factory expires on September 1.
Speaking during Prime Ministers Questions in London's House of Commons on Wednesday, Cameron said he would examine the matter after it was raised by Jack Dromey, the Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington.
"Queen Victoria was on the throne when the Dunlop factory in Erdington first produced world-class tyres for the motorsport industry," Dromey told the House of Commons.
"Jaguar Land Rover now needs the land that it owns for the welcome expansion of its Jaguar plant.
"The business secretary [Vince Cable, who chaired a summit meeting on the issue last weekend with the factory's owners] and Birmingham City Council have identified three sites and a financial package to relocate - will the Prime Minister join with the business secretary and I in urging Goodyear Dunlop to look at those alternatives and not walk away from 125 years of manufacturing history?"
Cameron responded: "I was briefed on this issue just before coming to the chamber and I'm very happy to look carefully at it and see what can be done.
"The recovery of the automotive industry, particularly in the West Midlands, has been hugely welcome for our country.
"Dunlop is an historic name and I'll certainly do all I can to work with the business secretary and him to get a good outcome."
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