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<p>The Government has no role in setting the strategic direction or priorities of
private sector businesses. As part of the mandatory consultation process on the future
of the GKN Driveline factory in Birmingham, the government secured assurances from
GKN Automotive that they would consider viable alternatives to closure, including
repurposing the plant to produce components for electric vehicles.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative
proposals were submitted as part of the consultation. After careful consideration,
GKN regrettably concluded there were no viable alternatives to closure.</p><p> </p><p>The
government is maintaining a dialogue about the site’s future, actively marketing the
site and is working with GKN and local partners to provide support and guidance to
the GKN employees. Any potential future commercial propositions for the Birmingham
site will be assessed on their own merits.</p><p> </p><p>The Government remains fully
committed to working in partnership with industry to support the automotive sector’s
transition to zero emission vehicles. Nearly £500m has been made available through
the Automotive Transformation Fund to build an internationally competitive electric
vehicle supply chain as part of my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan.
This will create thousands of well-paid green jobs in our industrial heartlands, including
the West Midlands.</p>
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