Superjumbo aid pressure grows

The BAE grant issue has led to criticism of Rhodri Morgan

Conservative Assembly leader Nick Bourne is meeting with aerospace chiefs in north Wales amid uncertainty over grant aid to help secure 1,400 new jobs.

Mr Bourne said the A3XX superjumbo project was "vital" to the Broughton plant.

His visit coincides with calls by the AEEU union to address the assembly directly over a £25m grant, which BAE claims it needs to bring the work to Flintshire.

Assembly First Secretary Rhodri Morgan turned down an initial application by BAE for the money earlier this year.

The grant issue has caused uncertainty as to whether the wings will actually be built at Broughton.

Nick Bourne: Work 'vital' to BAE

Mr Bourne is expected to renew his attack on Mr Morgan for his handling of the Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant.

The Conservative leader will meet with senior staff at the plant to discuss the superjumbo project, after the Airbus consortium gave it the go ahead last week.

BAE Systems seem to have a strong case for a grant, especially with the new Super-jumbo double decker plane on the drawing board. Conservative economic development spokesman Alun Cairns AM joined Mr Bourne for the Broughton talks.

"There is a vast amount of engineering skill in the BAE factory in Broughton," he said.

"These allow high pay jobs and the money is then pumped back into the local economy.

"It is difficult to overstate the importance of the factory to the region and North Wales as a whole." He added: "The Welsh Conservatives would have given a grant to BAE Systems in Broughton."

BAE's grant application was turned down by members of the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board, which reports to the first secretary.

Mr Morgan has emphasised his support for the A3XX project and said all "other options" would be discussed with the plant's staff and management.

If the grant is not forthcoming, BAE may consider moving the work away from Broughton to another of its plants, such as Filton, in Bristol.