A WORKING group is being set up by the Scottish Government in a bid to protect hundreds of jobs at the beleaguered Rolls-Royce plant in Inchinnan.

The firm plans to axe 700 members of its Renfrewshire workforce following the collapse of orders due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to Labour MSP Neil Bibby, business minister Jamie Hepburn said the Scottish Government is "in the process of establishing" a working group.

Mr Hepburn added: "There is no doubt that the market projections for the aerospace sector and Rolls-Royce are grave but the Scottish Government remains determined to understand what more can be done to save jobs and try to mitigate the devastating impact of recent announcements for the Inchinnan site."

The group will include representatives of the company, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).

Mr Hepburn said it will be "under no illusions as to the gravity of the task at hand."

He added: "The disruptive effect of the pandemic on the industry will also influence its future shape.

"The projections are that the path to recovery will be long and slow. The most positive estimates are that this will take at least 18 months.

"However, there is general consensus within the industry that suggests it will take five years or more to return to pre-Covid levels of activity. Demand for new aircraft and aerospace services will only return following a significant upturn in demand for air travel."

West of Scotland MSP Mr Bibby has welcomed the move.

He said: "I am pleased, after raising this with the First Minister, that the Scottish Government is forming a group to support jobs in the aerospace sector.

"The jobs at Rolls-Royce Inchinnan are vital to the west of Scotland economy and no stone should be left unturned in saving them. There is a future for the workforce if Rolls-Royce and governments at all levels stand by them.

"Labour has made clear we will work across parties to safeguard employment at this site.

"I will be monitoring the important work of the group closely."

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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