Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Bus Manufacturing

Thursday 26 June 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Brian Leishman declared his membership in Unite the union and expressed concern over Alexander Dennis starting a 45-day consultation with employees.
  • Euan Stainbank declared his interest as co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for British buses.
  • The Minister stated that the Government will support British manufacturers and Labour mayors are placing orders for UK-manufactured buses.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Brian Leishman Lab Alloa and Grangemouth
Employment Scotland Business & Trade
Context

Alexander Dennis Ltd has initiated a consultation period to potentially close its Falkirk and Larbert bus manufacturing sites, threatening hundreds of jobs in the constituencies of Brian Leishman and Euan Stainbank. Unite the union and GMB have called for Government intervention.

Question

I draw attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, which details my membership of Unite the union. Once upon a time, Scotland was an industrial powerhouse—we made things—but last week, Alexander Dennis started a 45-day consultation with employees. As it stands, hundreds of jobs will be lost from my constituency and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Falkirk (Euan Stainbank). Unite and the GMB have called for both the Scottish Government and the UK Government, the company and the unions to come together to find a solution to save those jobs and Scottish bus manufacturing.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)

I understand that this will be a deeply concerning time for workers at Alexander Dennis and their families. It is important that the Government, at all levels, support British manufacturers, which is why I was proud to chair the launch meeting of this Government’s new UK bus manufacturing expert panel on 13 March. The panel aims to explore ways to ensure that the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing. My officials and I have been in close contact with Alexander Dennis, and I remain committed to working with it and relevant Government Departments to find a way forward.

Partly answered

How: Committed To Working, In Close Contact

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Q2 Euan Stainbank Lab Falkirk
Transport
Context

Alexander Dennis Ltd has initiated a consultation period to potentially end more than a century of bus manufacturing in Scotland, putting over 400 workers out of their jobs. This situation contrasts with Labour mayors placing orders for UK-manufactured buses.

Question

I declare an interest as co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for British buses. As the Minister has outlined, this Labour Government will double real-terms transport spending in city regions by the end of this Parliament. While this should be very good news for bus manufacturing in this country, Alexander Dennis—in my constituency and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Alloa and Grangemouth (Brian Leishman)—is, in a contradictory move, seeking to end more than a century of bus manufacturing in Scotland and put 400 workers in Falkirk out of their jobs. What actions will the Secretary of State and Ministers, in conjunction with Cabinet colleagues and the Scottish Government, take to maintain strategically necessary bus manufacturing in Falkirk?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)

Labour mayors across the country are putting in orders for UK-manufactured buses, as we support bus travel in our towns and cities. The Scottish people will be asking questions about why the Mayor of Greater Manchester has managed to buy almost four times as many buses from Scotland as the SNP Scottish Government have. My officials and I are in close contact with Ministers and representatives from the Scottish Government, the Department for Business and Trade, the NFI Group—the owner of Alexander Dennis—and Scottish Enterprise to explore avenues of support.

Partly answered

How: In Close Contact, Exploring Avenues

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