Help to source pills plant buyer

Mr Salmond said every effort would be made to find a buyer for the site

First Minister Alex Salmond has promised full support to help 86 workers affected by a pharmaceutical plant closure in southern Scotland.

Shasun Pharma Solutions Ltd announced plans to shut its Annan site last week.

Dumfries MSP Elaine Murray asked Mr Salmond to confirm that Scottish Development International would help try to find a buyer for the plant.

He said the "full facilities" of the investment organisation would be used to help to tackle the situation.

Indian-owned Shasun plans to shut its plant in March 2009 as it claims it is "no longer viable".

Ms Murray is to meet with Finance Secretary John Swinney and Enterprise Minister Jim Mather to discuss the situation.

At this stage it is important that party differences are put to one side and that we all pull together to save these jobs and this facility Elaine Murray Dumfries MSP

Mr Salmond said everything would be done to find a buyer.

He said: "The full facilities of SDI and indeed the arrangements for helping people in terms of skills and retraining will be employed in Annan."

He said its services were already being used to tackle a similar situation at the Inverurie Paper Mill in his constituency.

"Annan will get the same priority of work from SDI and other agencies," he said.

Mr Salmond added that he suspected the SDI would be needed in many parts of Scotland "in current economic circumstances".

Ms Murray said she was pleased with the response from Mr Salmond.

She added: "Mr Mather is also hopeful that a buyer for the site may be identified.

"At this stage it is important that party differences are put to one side and that we all pull together to save these jobs and this facility.

"Mr Salmond also offered me a future meeting with Mr Swinney and Mr Mather which I will be pleased to take up."