MP appeals over pen factory jobs

Work will shift to the firm's factory in Nantes, France, next year

Plans to close the Parker Pen factory in East Sussex with the loss of around 180 jobs have been raised in the House of Commons by the local MP.

The plant, which has been in Newhaven since the 1940s and is one of the largest employers in the town, is due to close in 2010.

The decision has been taken by the firm's American owners, with the work being moved to its site in France.

Norman Baker, the Lib Dem MP for Lewes, urged the government to intervene.

'Utmost respect'

He told MPs the factory had a "very loyal workforce which had done its best to support Parker Pen over the years".

"There is a suspicion that the factory is being closed because of much stricter French employment laws, which make it difficult to close the French factory in Nantes to where the jobs are now being transferred," Mr Baker said.

Parker Pen has promised staff they will be treated with "the utmost respect".

Andy Smith, director of manufacturing, said they would receive terms "that generally exceed statutory requirements, plus access to support including an outplacement program to assist in identifying alternative employment".