Jane Kennedy, MP

MORE than sixty jobs are to be lost to India from United Biscuits's finance headquarters at Binns Road in Wavertree.

But in top level talks, bosses have promised local MP Jane Kennedy that compulsory redundancies will be avoided.

And the firm say they have underlined their commitment to Liverpool by the announcement of an £18million investment in the Jacobs manufacturing plant in Long Lane. At least 20 new jobs will be created by the investment.

Jane Kennedy said:" I am disappointed that 60 finance and accounts jobs are leaving Liverpool and being taken offshore to India, but welcome the fact that the company has promised there will be no compulsory redundancies.

"The company have also promised to fully involve union reps in discussions about the job losses over the next 18 months and say they will be increasing employment opportunities both at Binns Road and Long Lane."

Jane led a delegation of local Labour MPs who met bosses from United Biscuits for talks about the future of Binns Road at Westminster.

It had been feared that the future of Binns Road , where 250 people are employed, would be threatened if finance and accounts jobs were moved to India and that there would also be job losses at Jacobs.

But now the company have promised that the future of Binns Road is secure and there will be extra investment at Jacobs.