The Government should intervene to halt the spiralling cost of gas prices, Peter Booth, T&G National Organiser for manufacturing, told a conference of employers, 17th Feb, as industry & jobs are feeling the pain of inflated costs. Speaking to manufacturers in N Wales at the T&G's energy seminar, Mr.Booth welcomed the publication of the EC's report on energy prices, but said that now is the time for action. "Thousands of jobs have already been lost in manufacturing due to spiralling gas prices, particularly in glass, chemicals & engineering," he said. "Unless the Government takes swift & effective action, thousands more jobs will go. "Whilst we welcome the EC's report, it doesn't produce any solutions. The Commission needs to act & so does the British Government. Today we've been hearing direct from industry that gas prices are a major burden on an already troubled sector. This week we hear that manufacturing job figures are at an all time low. Many manufacturers say that their biggest immediate problem is energy costs. The Government cannot ignore the voices of industry and unions calling for action to end unfair competition. "We need credible prices that reflect those in the rest of Europe to enable British industry to compete. The British Government must ensure that the strategic needs of the UK economy are being met. They should be prepared to provide direct financial support and stop the export of our valuable energy resources."
